BUCKLAND Athletic exited the FA Vase at the hands of Barnstaple Town on Saturday, December 13, in what proved to be “one shootout to many.”

They advanced in rounds one and two after successful penalty campaigns, including that 12-11 thriller against Millbrook last month, but it was third time unlucky for Matt Cusack’s side.

From the off, the Barnstaple supporters were in fine voice, beating their drum and singing their songs from minute one to minute 90. Mid-way through the first half, they unveiled a banner which read ‘Speedy recovery, Riley’, referring to former Barum and current Ilfracombe Town man Riley Malin who sustained a serious injury against Bridport FC a month ago.

The pre-match message from Cusack and co was “to make it a proper cup tie” and it certainly felt like one at Homers Heath, both sides delivering intensity throughout.

Buckland were up against it, “playing with a bare-bones 11 as “The other 16 players just weren’t available for whatever reason.”

It looked a certainty that Josh Parry would draw first blood for the away side when he showed quick feet to evade onrushing Buckland goalkeeper Andrew Sowden-Bird. With the shot-stopper out of the equation, Parry had the goal at his mercy, only for Jack Baxter to thwart him with a spectacular block on the line.

At this stage, the referee had dished out a few yellow cards with the majority of the incidents leading to pushing and shoving, but no more.

A lengthy stoppage in play followed though as a challenge on Luke Mortimore by Scott Pocock left the former Tavistock and Okehampton man down on the ground. A sombre hush fell upon The VX3 Stadium as it became apparent the magnitude of the injury, Mortimore requiring a stretcher and leaving the field of play to a warm round of applause.

Oscar Knight entered the fray in Mortimore’s place and the game resumed, Barum hitting the crossbar from the restart.

With the half-time interval nearing, Buckland found the breakthrough. It was a great ball through from Isaac McCue and an even better touch by Toby Hard, the forward was then closed down well by ‘keeper Michael Searle only for Ryan Bush to follow in and convert the equaliser.

The second-half can’t have been more than five minutes old when Barum responded, Parry showing great feet again before curling the ball into the side netting with the outside of his boot.

At this stage, it was do or die for Buckland with their supremely energetic visitors sure to kick on.

Credit must go to the hosts as they chose do over die, Bush putting his side ahead for a second time. McCue’s ball from the byline was flicked on by Hard to the far post and Bush was on hand to convert, that incisive trio linking up well again.

It really was a back-and-forth affair in Newton Abbot with Barnstaple responding just a few minutes later. Sowden-Bird palmed out the initial cross with Knight then striking the bar and as the ball made its way to the edge of the area, Gabriel Rogers strode onto it and, with his weaker right foot, rocketed it beyond defenders and keeper alike.

With plenty more drama to come, Knight was shown a red card by the referee. Baxter was tugging him back as he looked to break away and the substitute appeared to strike out at the Buckland man.

Baxter was booked for his troubles but much to the chagrin of everyone in red, Barnstaple were reduced to 10 men.

Rather than providing the impetus for the hosts to go on and win the tie, the dismissal then saw Buckland “play into the hands” of their opponents.

Cusack continued, “I felt like when they went down to 10, we could have used that man advantage better.

“We had little spells where we used the ball well but we needed to move it quicker on the surface, move them from left to right and tire them, then play through them, but instead, I feel like we were a little bit to direct.”

Midfielder Toby Dell pulled up injured with 10 minutes remaining and due to the lack of substitutes, he was forced to hobble around until the final whistle blew.

Talking of the final whistle and it was Barnstaple who went closest to winning the tie in 90 minutes, Parry continuing to be a handful and the woodwork denying them once again.

Neither side could strike the fifth goal of the afternoon and so a third penalty shootout of this FA Vase campaign was on the menu for the Bucks.

Cusack commented, “When we went to penalties, I backed us and why wouldn’t I? On two previous occasions we’ve negotiated the shootout, but it wasn’t to be.”

Taking the spot-kicks in front of the boisterous Barum followers, Bush and McCue had their efforts saved and Myles James and Hard fired off target. Luke Alden and Brodie Montague scored for Barnstaple as they prevailed 2-0.

Injured forward Jared Lewington was shown a red card after the shootout because of something he said to the officials.

Cusack asserted that his side “put in a proper shift and the club is very proud of them for that.

“Credit to the opposition, they’ve got their moment today we wish them the best of luck in the next round.”

Barnstaple Town are now one step closer to Wembley and will welcome AFC Stoneham to Mill Road on Saturday, January 17. This is the joint-furthest they have made it in the Vase so a win against Stoneham would be a record-breaking achievement for the club.