By Kevin Marriott at Broadclose Park
SWPL PREMIER WEST
Bude Town 0 Wendron United 3
WENDRON knocked Dobwalls off the top of the table on goal difference with a hard-working 3-0 victory over Bude Town at Broadclose Park on Saturday.
Michael O’Neill’s side ooze quality and completely dominated the first half, with Brodie Kemp’s 26th minute header the least the visitors deserved.
But Bude were a different proposition after the break and it took until the 77th minute to get a second goal through Ryan Reeve which secured all three points.
Kristoff Muller, who seemed to spend half of the match taking corners, finally made one count 10 minutes from time when his curling cross towards the near post caught the wind, deceived Bude keeper Ty Rowe and ended in the back of the net to complete the scoring.
It was a significant victory for Wendron at a venue where Newquay, arriving as leaders two weeks before , were beaten 2-1.
Wendron have played three more games than Dobwalls, whose match at Callington was postponed, but they’re going to be in the top six all season on the evidence of Saturday’s performance.
Wendron boss Mike O’Neill said: “The game from our perspective went really well. We know Bude are a tough nut to crack at home, especially given some of their recent results.
“We challenged ourselves to try and be really front-footed with the press and then ultimately improve our chance conversion in the final third, which I felt we did.
“Bude set up really well and were unlucky at certain points, particularly had they scored the strike (Jake Woodland’s 25-yard drive which hit the underside of the bar) early in the second half. I think the way the game was shaping at that stage, we’d have had to of dug deep for the result.
“Overall, I was really pleased to come away with the three points, it wasn’t as straightforward as the score suggested and to now have back to back wins in the league, we are in a good place leading up to Launceston next Saturday.”
Wendron set out their stall from the start and it took some excellent defending from Bude to keep the game goalless in the opening 20 minutes, when the home penalty area was continually packed for corners.
The opening goal, however, came from open play as a right wing cross picked out Kemp 12 yards out and he directed his header past Ty Rowe into the net.
Bude struggled to get out of their own half in the first half, but they came desperately close to equalising with the first attack after the break as Jake Woodland’s 25-yard shot came back off the bar.
Rocco Dyer, having much more of an impact wide on the left, then set off on a mazy run in the 53rd minute which ended with a low shot which beat keeper Zach Telling but flew just wide.
The second half developed into a more even contest but when Bude failed to find an equaliser, Wendron took advantage.
Reeve, who had been a constant threat with his pace, burst clear after a slip and curled his 20-yard shot into the net to double the visitors’ lead.
Muller’s wind-assisted goal from his corner ended any doubt about the destiny of the points.
WENDRON UNITED: Zach Telling, Dan Greet, Callum Bertrand (Josiah Plummer 46), Max Roberts, Russell May (capt), Joe Chapman, Ryan Reeve, Kris Muller, Brodie Kemp, Rubin Wilson, Josh Wood. Subs not used: Dom Scoffin, Mike O’Neill, Joshua McDonald, Bryan Scoffin (gk).
Wendron United man of the match: Kristoff Muller.