Jefferys E.Agent Knock Out Cup Semi-Final

 

 

Bude  4     Looe 3

 

 

 A thrilling game saw Bude win this semi-final by the odd goal.  It was a  quick start by both teams and Bude took the lead after 10 mins, a Jason Ferett free kick 40 yards out floated in and on to the cross bar, bounced on to the goal line and striker Tommy Statton reacted sharply to nod in.  Bude looked more comfortable , but were pegged back midway through the half when their right winger got down the the right and whipped a cross in from the by-line, David Mullis attacked the cross and scored with a great equaliser.  This settled the young Looe side down, a team three divisions below Bude but who had already put out two Premier division sides, and they matched Bude for the rest of the half.  They came close to taking the lead, but had a goal ruled offside after 35 mins and Bude also great opportunities with Gary Dinshaw coming close on a couple of occasions.  Looe came right out of their blocks for the second half and went 3-1 up inside 10 mins, Looe's top goal scorer Matt Barton collected the ball inside Bude's half, managed to race away from the Bude defence and slot the ball past keeper Matt Warburton, he then grabbed his second of the game soon after when the ball bounced over between defender and goalkeeper, with neither taking action, Barton nipped in, said 'thank you' , took the ball and tapped in to an empty net.  Bude were all over the place, their shape had gone and the come back never looked on.  From nowhere though midway through the half, Bude broke down the left, the ball came through to Dinshaw, who turned and laid a pass through the defence for Statton to run on to and smash in past the keeper.  Bude were suddenly a changed team, they stepped up two or three gears and looked much more dangerous and levelled soon after when the ball fell in the box to Dinshaw, some juggling with the ball to try and beat a defender saw him again square the ball in to the path of inspirational Statton who grabbed his hat-trick by again smashing in from close range.  Looe were tiring and Bude took advantage to pile on the pressure and were awarded a penalty in the 80th min, a hand ball in the box was denied but then another defender handled straight after and this time the penalty was given.  Dan Balsdon took it on his shoulders to hammer the ball in to the net and give Bude the lead, the come back was complete, late pressure was superbly defended by Bude and they now go through to the final which will be played again at Launceston on May 1st.  Balsdon would like to dedicate his winning goal to Simon Chadwick who was forced off at half time after concussion caused by a wayward foot.