League Match

Roche  2     V      Bude  3

Bude came from two goals down to snatch a dramatic victory against league strugglers Roche. With the wind behind them Bude had the majority of play in the first half but it was Roche who took the lead after 25 mins when Roches' Rob Ashton put a cross in from the left, Budes defender Jamie Hopcroft glanced a header in to the top corner of the near post.  Roche then doubled their lead when Shaun Hambley was allowed to turn with the ball from 25 yards out and hit a sweet strike in to the top of the goal.  Both teams had chances with Budes Dan Balsdon having a header cleared off the line and Roches' Hambley rounding the visiting keeper but his shot was well blocked by centre back Wayne Cornish near the end of the half.  Against the wind Bude came out flying for the second half, and brought on young Wesley Pugh who had a superb 45 minutes. They pulled one back early in the half when Tommy Statton was put in on goal by Balsdon and Statton slid his strike past the keeper.  Within minutes Bude equalised when Adam Cornish split the defence for Balsdon to run on to down the right hand side and he lobbed the oncoming keeper. Bude won a penalty after 70 mins when Billy Hopcroft was brought down by the keeper, and Balsdon grabbed his second from the spot to take Bude in to a lead.  Roche had their chances hitting Budes' crossbar three times, one of them a superb tip on to the bar from stand-in keeper Gordon Wint.  Roche were reduced to ten men in the 80th minute when Ashton saw red for giving the ref verbal abuse, and top off a nightmare half for Roche.