BUCKLAND Athletic returned to the Jewson Western League Premier playoff positions with a second consecutive win on their travels.

Having scored four times at Oldland Abbotonians the weekend prior, the Bucks matched this feat, this time prevailing over Helston Athletic.

Manager Matt Cusack was making a return to his former stomping ground and he wrote on Twitter after the game; “Lovely to go back to Helston and see the great folk down there.”

It wasn’t the smoothest of starts for the Bucks at Kellaway Park though, losing both a goal and a key player.

Helston took the lead with eight minutes on the clock and then Jamie Simmonds was forced off for the visitors, Sammy Stayt replacing him in the side.

Not for the first time this season, Buckland rectified their slow start and it was the in-form Jack Baxter who notched the equaliser, his cross confusing the goalkeeper before ending up in the back of the net.

Shortly after, Ryan Bush got his customary goal with defender Myles James playing a key role, Cusack labelling this as their “team goal of the year.”

The second half didn’t start particularly well either, Yellows goalkeeper Andrew Sowden-Bird giving away a penalty, receiving a yellow card and then conceding the spot-kick.

Baxter volleyed Buckland back ahead five minutes later and then Bush completed a brace of his own to help the Newton Abbot side to a crucial three points.

Elsewhere, Sidmouth Town were beaten 2-1 at Barnstaple Town, allowing Buckland back into the top five, plus Paulton Rovers did them a favour by beating Newquay AFC.

Four midweek games could further shift the landscape around them, but Cusack’s side know that they will enter the weekend still in fifth place. 17th-placed Brislington are the visitors at Homers Heath in a must-win matchup.