CORNWALL SENIOR CUP SECOND-ROUND

Mousehole 0 Bude Town 4

BUDE Town boss Steve Hackett is targeting a home tie with ‘one of the big boys’ as Ray Spear’s hat-trick sent them through to the last eight of the Cornwall Senior Cup with a 4-0 victory at league rivals Mousehole on Wednesday night.

The Seasiders headed west for the second time in four days looking to bounce back from their defeat at leaders Penzance. Ahead of kick-off, they brought in attackers Tega Olaosebikan and Dylan Morgan and midfielder Baga Mariko for the unavailable Harrison Swatton, Harry Banks and Piran Friend.

On a cold, yet dry evening, Bude started well and within five minutes saw Spear draw a fine save out of home stopper Gerens James, who was powerless midway through the half to prevent centre-half Ewan Reeves bundle a shot inside the near post following a goalmouth scramble.

Bude continued to be the better side and got their reward five minutes before the break when Spear fired into the top corner from 20 yards.

There was still time before the break for James to make another brilliant stop, this time from Billy Hopcroft, but the next goal proved crucial and within a couple of minutes of the restart it was 3-0 as Spear added a second from close-range.

The Seagulls finally created a couple of chances which weren’t taken, and the in-form Spear rounded off a brilliant night for the North Cornwall side with a late penalty after Friend was brought down following a mazy run.

They are just one of four South West Peninsula League Premier West outfits left in the competition with potential opposition in the quarter-finals including Southern League Division One South side Falmouth Town or Western League clubs Liskeard Athletic, Newquay, Torpoint Athletic and St Blazey, the latter who visit Hayle in the last 16 on November 25.

Hackett felt the result was just reward for some excellent recent performances, and hopes they can land a big night on home soil when the draw is made.

He said: “I was delighted with the result last night which matched the performance.

“Lately we’ve played really well without any reward, but it was a really good, solid all-round performance where we created plenty of chances but still put away four and managed a clean sheet.

“We’d love now to face one of the big boys at home in front of supporters at Broadclose.”

Bude, who were beaten by Dobwalls and Penzance, return to league action on Saturday with a visit from neighbours Launceston to Broadclose Park (3pm), as they look to climb back into contention for the top five.

Hackett continued: “We want to get back on a run again and put things right in our league fixtures. We need to keep playing as we have been recently, but make sure we’re as clinical as we were last night.”

BUDE TOWN: Jack Arthur; Nathan Colley, Ewan Reeves, Harry Hopcroft (capt), Fin Haste; Jake Woodland, Baga Mariko; Tega Olaosebikan, Dylan Morgan, Billy Hopcroft; Ray Spear. Subs: Harry Banks, Marley Cunningham, Piran Friend, Ernie Rix, Steve Hackett.

Seasiders’ man-of-the-match: Ray Spear.