Buckland battle back to record opening win over Newquay in Western League

The Jewson Western League season is fully underway and Buckland Athletic had to survive a first-half scare before defeating newly-promoted Newquay at Homers Heath.

In their first competitive fixture under new manager Matt Cusack, the Bucks, who reached the play-off semi-final last term, took a while to get going and were punished by an opening goal from Jack Bray-Evans.

After the break, Buckland were much improved and restored parity when Rafa Beadman was felled in the box and Jared Lewington duly converted. A long-rang strike from debutant Sean Thomson edged the Bucks in front and it was job done when the lively Phil Mendonca squared the ball for opposite winger Luke Forward to seal a 3-1 win triumph.

Elsewhere across the Western League, Ivybridge Town made the biggest statement with a 7-0 walloping of St Austell, while Buckland’s midweek hosts, Barnstaple Town, went down 1-0 at Paulton Rovers.

Sidmouth Town, the other side promoted from the Peninsula League, did themselves no dishonour in only losing 1-0 at Clevedon Town, who only missed out on going up to the Southern League in last season’s play-off final. There were also wins for Helston Athletic, Saltash United, Shepton Mallet and Street.