League Match

 

Bude Reserves 2     Merton 2 

Budes first game for nearly a month saw them playing as though three points were going to be easily in the bag, but in the end escaped with a draw.  Bude dominated much of the first half creating enough chances for three games but couldn't find that killer touch, strikers John Clayton and Stevie Thompson again working hard up front and Ian Marks shooting at every opportunity, but against the run of play Merton took the lead with their first threatening attack after 35 minutes, a long ball over the Bude defence found a Merton striker get in behind and he lobbed keeper Bob Freestone who came out to meet it, Freestone scrambled back and just managed to dive and palm the ball off the goal line, but Paul Sullivan was present to knock it back in. Bude still on top in the second half, possession wise, found themselves fall another goal behind. A corner from the left came in low, a Merton player volleyed in to near post, James Bromell was on the post and managed to stop it going in, not that he knew much about it as it smashed off his face in to the path of Nathan Delaune who tapped in from close range.
Bude jigged their formation around and it seemed to give Bude more presence going forward. A free kick from the right after 75 minutes was knocked in low and hard and everyone at the near post missed it, Gary Hodgson was behind them unmarked and reduced the arrears.  Bude won a penalty 10 minutes later, Ian Marks crossed from the right and a defender put his arms out, the ref had no option but to point to the spot. Marks himself stepped up and tucked his shot in to the right hand corner.  Bude could have won the game with Thompson denied in the final minute by some superb Merton defending.