Penalty heartache for Seasiders in home draw

THE Seasiders were left frustrated on Saturday as an inspired goalkeeping display from Tom Burstow – which included two penalty saves – denied them a fourth straight win.

Bude had seen off Camelford, Dobwalls and Wadebridge Town in their previous three outings and named another strong side although the likes of Harry Hopcroft and Nathan Colley were still out injured.

Town started brightly and within three minutes were left bemoaning their luck as Billy Hopcroft’s shot from the edge of the box, which was destined for the top corner, was superbly kept out.

However they did go in front on 27 minutes as centre-half Jake Woodland clipped a ball over the top for the speedy Piran Friend to run in behind and slot home from the edge of the box.

Harrison Swatton’s 18-yard drive was kept out by Burstow on 37 minutes as the Seasiders led at the break.

Eight minutes after the restart they doubled their lead. Again Woodland clipped a ball over the top which Baga Mariko got to. His pull-back found Hopcroft, and although his initial effort was kept out, he crashed in the rebound from six yards.

However, the Brook are a side of battlers and got one back just before the hour following a foul from centre-half James Wheeler. Up stepped Will Burns to knock in the penalty.

Burstow denied Hopcroft once more from six yards on 62 minutes before the Brook levelled six minutes later as Luke Jones picked up the ball on the left and drove inside before beating Leam Powell.

Burstow had a fine afternoon but the best was yet to come. On 72 minutes sub Tega Olaosebikan was taken down, but Swatton’s spot-kick was at a good height as Burstow pushed it away.

Twelve minutes later Bude were awarded a second penalty as Hopcroft won it, however his penalty was brilliantly tipped on to the post.

Bude pushed hard for a late winner, but Millbrook’s defence proved a tough nut to crack as they were forced to settle for a point.

Reflecting on the afternoon, boss Steve Hackett admitted he had mixed emotions.

He said: “It was a hugely entertaining game of football for the neutral which had absolutely everything, but unfortunately for us, we had to settle for a point. I thought we put in a fantastic team performance full of dangerous front-foot, attacking football, but found their keeper in unbelievable form with a string of fine saves including two from the penalty spot. He was the difference between us getting a point and not all three.”

Wins bring expectation but Hackett was keen to take the positives.

He concluded: “Unfortunately in the dressing room in felt like a defeat, but it’s the way football goes sometimes and I cannot fault the effort of my boys. We’ve got to remember that we’ve picked up three wins and a draw in the last four matches, so we are still in fine form and looking positively ahead to our next games against Wendron at home and St Mawgan away.”

BUDE TOWN: Leam Powell; Jake Woodland, James Wheeler, Ewan Reeves, Fin Haste; Archie Perrott, Harry Banks; Rio Anderson, Piran Friend Harrison Swatton; Billy Hopcroft (capt). Subs: Dylan Morgan, Ruan Tape, Baga Mariko, Mason Tape, Tega Olaosebikan.

Seasiders’ man-of-the-match: Jake Woodland.