By Andy Davis

WEST HOCKEY LEAGUE MEN’S PIRAN DIVISION ONE (SATURDAY)

Ocean City Seconds 1 Bude 5

BUDE built on their impressive fightback at Truro a week earlier as they won 5-1 at their Plymouth-based hosts.

The Seasiders started well in windy conditions with an excellent press in the middle third that caused their opponents into numerous errors which resulted in Bude coming away with the ball in promising positions.

The first set of chances came by with a succession of penalty corners for Bude that they executed fairly well but the home keeper was more than equal to them.

He then continued his fine range of saves with multiple more saves from open play as Bude peppered the Ocean City goal for a sustained 20-minute period, but they could not get the ball in the back of the net.

The Devonians almost made the visitors pay for not taking the lead as a swift attack down the left saw the ball get fired into the D; and was deflected high towards the goal, but a point-blank reaction glove save by Bude keeper Oscar Kirby saw the ball whistle just over the crossbar.

Bude recovered well from this scare as they kept their composure and stuck to their gameplan which brought some half chances before they finally broke the deadlock with a lovely flowing team move that ended with Charlie Falla neatly sticking the ball home from close range.

This paved the way for a devastating final five minutes of the first half as Ocean City succumbed to the relentless pressure which allowed Charlie Walker to fire two long range rockets in that left the home team shell shocked and gave the Cornishmen a well-deserved 3-0 lead.

The Bude half-time team talk focused on the importance of after a good first half is to back it up with another by continuing to be patient whilst doing the right things to keep creating chances and the pressure on their opponents, and they did this superbly.

Within five minutes they had extended the lead as Walker completed his hat-trick with another well-taken field goal.

A steady flow of chances came as the weight of pressure and dominance were felt by Ocean City who rushed passes and made mistakes.

Henry Walker scored Bude’s fifth goal in the 45th minute when he popped up at the back post to tap home Charles Walker’s cross.

But the chances did not stop there as more came and went including a goal disallowed for promising youngster Marc Leverton due to a back stick.

Ocean City dug deep and never gave up, fighting to ensure the score did not run away from them and in fact capitalised with a rare counterattack when Bude momentarily slipped in concentration and effort as they forced the ball through the middle riding some half tackles.

Then once inside the D a scrappy melee ensued which ended up with the ball trickling over the line.

Bude responded well and upped their game to see out the rest of the game comfortably in the deteriorating conditions.

Bude’s man of the match was awarded to Drew Bardsley who had a mature and composed game on the left-wing, creating many an opportunity and linking up well this those around him but also offering a solid defensive option when required.

Bude’s next game in their promotion push is this Saturday when they welcome strugglers Plymouth Lions to the Budehaven Sports Centre with a 1pm push back.

The ladies’ match at Bodmin Seconds in Trelawney Division One was postponed due to Storm Bert. They host St Austell on Saturday (11.30am).