THE Seasiders were made to pay for their lack of killer instinct in the final third as Millbrook earned a 2-0 success at Broadclose Park.

Bude, who gave a start to Harry Hopcroft in midfield following his summer return from Wadebridge Town and had brother Billy on the bench having rejoined from Barnstaple, named a familiar looking side to last season with plenty of youth, although they were missing the likes of re-signed defender Dave Youldon and mercurial attacker, Maximus Alvarez-Lopera.

And on a fine summer’s day in North Cornwall, the Seasiders dominated possession for much of the 90 minutes, but crucially couldn’t get the all-important breakthrough.

In the first half, the well-drilled visiting defence restricted the home side to a series of half chances, while Hopcroft’s 25-yard free-kick just didn't dip enough to go under the crossbar.

The second half was much the same with some neat football being played across the pitch, but the hosts found life difficult as they reached the final third.

Harrison Swatton had a curling effort test visiting keeper Allan Tercjak, as did exciting winger Jack Biddick from range who saw his effort well saved.

Bude boss Steve Hackett brought on all five subs in a bid to get the decisive goal, but with 20 minutes to play Millbrook took the lead as after a half tackle was made, new signing Jayden Preece found the bottom corner.

With ten minutes remaining, a long goal-kick wasn’t properly dealt with, allowing some fine interplay which ended with sub Alfie Cole making no mistake.

Millbrook’s defence then kept the game tight to run out winners from their long trip up to North Cornwall, while for Bude, who welcome Callington Town in their next outing on Wednesday, August 13, it was a reminder that you need to strike when the iron is hot.

Despite the setback, Hackett took the positives.

He said: “The result on Saturday didn’t reflect our excellent performance.

“We had the majority of possession but just couldn’t find the all important breakthrough or clearcut chances in the final third to score the goal we deserved.

“The Millbrook defence was very organised and difficult to break down, but at half-time we felt we were playing well and it was just a matter of time before we found the net.”

Hackett continued: “Everything about our performance was pleasing on Saturday except for chance creation which we now need to work on to improve before our next game.

“Jamie Gorst at right-back was superb and was our man of the match with his work-rate, and there were a lot of fine individual performances across the side.

“We definitely have a good platform to build from, we are heartened by how comfortable we were in the match but gutted to not get the result we deserved. Football has a habit of doing this to you if you don’t make your opponents pay and kill a game off, and the Millbrook game was a perfect example of that.”

BUDE TOWN: Ty Rowe; Jamie Gorst, James Wheeler, Ewan Reeves (capt), Finn Reeve; Jake Woodland, Harry Hopcroft, Harrison Swatton; Archie Perrott, Dylan Morgan, Jack Biddick. Subs: Ruan Tape, Ryan Vanstone, Billy Hopcroft, Aaron Hart, Will Rees.

Bude Town man-of-the-match: Jamie Gorst.