Against lower league opposition, Bude started the game well going one up inside the first 10 mins. A ball from the right was controlled on the chest well by Steve Smeeth 10 yards out and his goal wards shot glanced off Gary Hodgsons’ face and in to the net , (I’m claiming it anyway). Further pressure from Bude saw them rewarded with a penalty mid way through the half when another Smeeth strike was well saved on the goal line, only it was the full back that made the save. Unbelievably the defender was only shown a yellow card, but Norman Foster made up for this with a well placed penalty in to the top corner. St. Merryn rarely looked like scoring in the half as they were reduced to two long range strikes, one which keeper Ben Purcell had to push over the crossbar. A few inspirational words at half time from technical director Ollie Smith (‘If you score two more goals and win I’ll buy you all a drink’) saw Bude go out after half time on a high and were soon given another penalty when left back Jamie Hopcroft made a superb run down the left with the ball and was brought down in the box as he went past the full back. Foster shot down the middle but the keeper saved, the rebound came back to Foster but a difficult bounce saw him shoot wide. St.Merryn scored a surprise goal after 65 mins when a striker received the ball just outside the box and his shot found the bottom corner of the Bude net. For the next 10 mins Bude came under pressure and looked like they could draw level, Budes keeper Purcell had to be replaced in goal by Lee Cornsih due to a groin injury and a change in personnel upset Budes rhythm for a short period. It took a bit of brilliance from the wing master Jason Ferrett to restore Budes two goal advantage. Collecting the ball out on the left he weaved his way past player after player and in to the box as he coolly tucked a right foot strike inside the near post, reminiscent of ‘John Barnes‘. Bude took control again and soon made it four-one when a good move on the left saw a low cross find Smeeth who side footed past the keeper, on to the far post and in, to take Bude in to the 2^nd round of the competition. (Still waiting for those drinks though, Oll!!).