By Andy Davis

WEST HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S PIRAN DIVISION ONE

Truro Thirds 2 Bude 2

BUDE faced a stern test away to current league leaders Truro Thirds and they came out with a 2-2 draw after a momentous second half.

With so much at stake it was disappointing that Bude were yet again missing some quality players from within their ranks, but the overall squad is undoubtably getting stronger which was epitomised by this result.

An even opening first 10 minutes saw both sides start cagey without either really over committing, but it was Bude who grew stronger and stronger with some good early shots on goal.

But just as Bude were starting to dominate they were undone by a swift counter attack down the left-hand side which saw a speculative cross creep across the goal and the Bude keeper could only parry the ball straight to an unmarked Truro attacker at the back post who gratefully tapped the ball home.

The Seasiders steadied themselves and after a short reset period they started to press and open up the opposition; utilising a high ball over the top which helped them create a number of clear-cut chances. But frustratingly they could not find the elusive finishing touch.

As the half was drawing to a close, the hosts made another decisive quick turnover high up the pitch and as the ball came into the D, the Bude defence yet again failed to deal with the speculative ball and it somehow squirmed its way into the goal to give Truro a flattering two-goal lead.

Bude’s half-time team talk focused on the positives as they knew they were more than a match for their opponents.

From the whistle Bude were united and determined to keep their promotion dreams alive.

It took just two minutes for man of the match Tom Lush to leave his mark on the game as a sweet aerial ball was popped over to the right wing where Henry Gwynn-Thomas used his silky skills and speed to bypass his defender; and as he approached the D he slipped the ball across to Charlie Falla who dropped his shoulder and rolled around to ping the ball neatly into the bottom corner past a diving keeper.

With Truro a little shell-shocked, Bude wasted no time in drawing level as another united squeeze around the middle of the park allowed Lush to perfectly steal the ball and after a short direct run, sent a peach of a shot across the D for Zack Davis to slot home at the back post.

With their tails up Bude went looking for the winner but a couple of hasty tackles saw some temporary suspensions harm their flow and allowed Truro to settle back into the game.

The visitors made sure not to concede and when back at full strength an entertaining end to end game was laid on for the spectators as both teams vied to get the winner.

But in the end it was a draw that probably meant slightly more to Bude than Truro.

The result means both teams surrendered their league positions, but with just two points now separating the top four teams it has created an interesting dynamic that means every one of the final run of games into Christmas could be crucial in seeing who has the upper hand at the end of the first half of the season.

Bude face a potential banana skin on Saturday as they visit Ocean City Seconds on a ground they historically struggle at.

But this is a developing Seasiders side looking to change the past for the better, as shown by the second half comeback.