Torridge Cup

Appledore 3    Bude 5   (AET)

Bude go through to the Torridge Cup semi finals with a hard fought victory against Peninsula Div 1 team Appledore.  An even opening quarter saw Appledore take the lead after 20 minutes, a cross from the left saw defenders and strikers go up for the header, the ball his a shoulder and looped over keeper Gary Dinshaw in to the net.  Both teams were playing some attractive football but the defences were keeping the strikers at bay.  Bude equalised early in to the second half when Billy Hopcroft was brought down by the home keeper. He duly stepped up and scored to the goalies left.  Bude were on top for a period and a couple of great saves from the keeper kept Appledore in the game.  Appledore though rode this period and for the final 10 minutes were causing problems for the Bude defence but couldn't make anything count.  The game went in to extra time and for the first period Bude made it count scoring twice, a Stevie Box cross from the right was played across the face of goal and Steve Thompson slid in the back post to score.   Minutes later Thompson was brought down by a defender for a penalty which saw the defender sent off and Appledore reduced to ten men.  Straight from the kick off in the final 15 mins, Appledores striker took the ball through the Bude team with ease shot from the edge of the box and reduced the arrears,. Minutes later the game was level when a ball played in to the Bude box saw Bude appealing for offside, the player scored from yards out but the decision was given to Appledore. With the game looking to be going to penalties Bude came up with the winner, the ball played through to Hopcroft saw him round the keeper and tap in to an empty net.  Hopcroft immediately struck again when the ball came to him out to the right and he smashed the ball in past the near post for his fourth and Budes fifth and final goal.