THE Clarets travelled up to Bude on Saturday, still looking for a first-ever league victory over their North Cornwall neighbours.

The home team made changes following the 4-1 Senior Cup defeat against Camelford in midweek, bringing Ericson Okonkwo, Baga Mariko and Saddam Bello into the starting eleven.

Meanwhile Launceston were pleased to welcome Shae Cardiff back into the first team squad, following a spell at Camelford.

In the early stages, Bude were playing a possession-based passing game, lacking their usual aggressive approach. Billy Hopcroft fired one good chance over the crossbar but the Clarets also started brightly and moved ahead after 13 minutes.

A free-kick from deep on the left was met beyond the far post by Joe Moynan. He headed the ball back into the danger area where it was met by Kian Berry who tapped home from close range.

Bude were generally on top at this stage but Launceston continued to create chances and Berry should probably have added to the lead, only to be denied by a sharp block from home keeper Ty Rowe.

A 20-yard free-kick by Clarets skipper Mike Steele was well saved by Rowe before strikers Berry and Alfie Fothergill combined well, only to see the resultant shot blocked.

At the other end, Billy Hopcroft got his head to a cross from the left but his clever flicked effort landed on the roof of the net with keeper Howie Evans struggling.

However, after 35 minutes, and against the run of play, the visitors doubled their lead with an opportunistic effort from the lively Fothergill. The striker seized on an attempted clearance to grab his third goal of the season.

The Clarets, two goals in front for the first time this season, needed to re-group and settle but instead conceded almost immediately.

The busy Baga Mariko set up Bello to score from almost on the goal-line, with the Launceston defence appealing in vain for offside.

The second half opened with Launceston looking fairly comfortable but a series of substitutions gave Bude fresh impetus. It was no real surprise when Billy Hopcroft, who always seems to do well against the Clarets, struck a fine 20-yard drive past Evans to level the scores.

The excellent Evans came into his own during the closing stages, making a series of fine saves although he was comprehensively beaten by one effort from substitute Aaron White which crashed against the far post before rebounding to safety.

Although coming under sustained late pressure and conceding a succession of corners, this Launceston defence, despite missing the suspended Jude Jago, has developed a more resilient core of late.

At the other end, Fothergill and Cardiff, who replaced Berry for the second half, ensured the home defence couldn’t relax.

So an entertaining game that Launceston had chances to win, but could easily have lost, ended in a hard fought 2-2 draw.

Bude Town: Ty Rowe; Ericson Okonkwo, Finn Reeve, James Wheeler, Ewan Reeves, Baga Mariko, Harrison Swatton, Harry Hopcroft, Jake Woodland, Saddam Bello, Billy Hopcroft.

Substitutes: Abdul Deifa, Aaron White, Jake Gilbert, Jamie Gorst, Piran Friend.

Launceston: Howie Evans: Sam Tattersall, Taylor Davey, Joe Moynan, Archie Wall, Tom Manuel, Ryan Dawe, Mike Steele, Alfie Fothergill, Will Gilbert, Kian Berry.

Substitutes: Alfie Freeman, George Durham, Tom Bullock, Shae Cardiff.