BUCKLAND Athletic suffered just a second defeat of their Western Football League campaign when they crossed the border into Cornwall on Saturday, October 26.

This result went very much against the form books as it was a second win of the season for a struggling St. Blazey side, George Newton’s first-half strike proving to be the difference between the two teams at Blaise Park.

Dan Hart’s men huffed and puffed but to no avail on what he described as a “Frustrating afternoon”, failing to score a goal of their own for only a third time.

Speaking to the club’s media, Hart added: “We’ve all got to look at ourselves today, not the result we were looking for, not the performance, not the commitment to the game I think and what it takes to win the game and that goes for all of us.

“Away from home, particularly in this league, it’s a stark reminder to the lads that you can be playing well, be in a really good rhythm but if you don’t perform, you’re going to become unstuck. If you concede the first goal and allow teams to control the tempo and slow the game down, you’re going to become unstuck.”

Next up for Athletic, they will host the league leaders Brixham AFC in a Devon derby not to be missed.

It promises to be a mammoth fixture for Buckland and Hart is in preparation mood for his team’s return to Homers Heath.

“I trust this group implicitly. I think their qualities standout, we’re going to get players back in this week.

“It is a big month ahead, probably to early to say season-defining but it is hugely important and it is really important we bounce back with a little bit of quality, at home next week in a really big game against a side that are playing unbelievably well at the minute. Respond with a little bit of passion and respond with a performance that reflects everything we do on and off of the pitch.”

Can Buckland bounce back against their closest Western Football League rivals?