League Match

St.Stephen 1          Bude 1

League strugglers St.Stephen got their Christmas wish as they collected their first league point of the season against a lethargic Bude side.  The first half Bude were fairly comfortable and looked dangerous but spurned various chances close to goal.  They finally took the lead after 25 mins when a short Jason Ferrett corner, saw Gary Hodgson put a low cross in to the box, Wayne Cornish flicked on and striker Tommy Statton swivelled to smash in from close range.  Instead of pressing on, Bude seemed to sit back and they allowed the home side to equalise after 40 mins, a cross from the left picked out Joe Newness who headed back across the area, Chris Coad, lying on the floor hooked the ball goal wards, the ball clipped off Budes' Adam Cornish and in to the corner of the net.  St.Stephens nearly took the lead on the stroke of half time when a striker pushed the ball past the visiting keeper after a through ball, but took the ball too wide, he then turned and chipped the ball towards the far top corner of the goal, but defender Dan Starkey recovered with a superb tipped header over the bar.
The second half was more St.Stephens as the determined side looked the more likely to snatch a win, Budes' shape completely went as the game wore on and better finishing would have seen them take all three points. Overall the draw was probably the fairest result.