BUCKLAND Athletic responded to their exit from the Les Phillips Cup in impressive style, scoring four on their travels.

Wiltshire was their destination to take on Bradford Town and three first-half goals saw the Bucks storm into the lead.

Young striker Toby Hard opened the scoring and matched it with a knee-slide in the wet conditions, a celebration matched by centre-back Scott Pocock who headed home the second.

Ryan Bush stepped up to convert a penalty for 3-0 and he contributed the fourth as well, Myles James finding him well and the prolific forward doing the rest.

Buckland have now done the double over Bradford- they won the reverse fixture at The VX3 Stadium back in August, Bush and Jack Baxter with the goals on that rainy day.

A ninth win of the campaign has Matt Cusack’s side in sixth in the Western League, sitting on a strong 30 points.

Meanwhile, their Devon rivals Ivybridge Town drew at home to new leaders Clevedon Town just days after they beat previous leaders Torpoint Athletic 4-1 in the league cup.

This proves that the top two aren’t out of Buckland’s reach yet and equally, they are just two points outside of the playoffs at the time of writing.

On Twitter after the game, Cusack wrote: “It’s been a turbulent week for us at Buckland Athletic, today we showed immense character and bouncebackability [against] Bradford Town and put in a terrific performance.”

The Yellows have no midweek action to contend with and will take the pitch next on Saturday, November 8, in the second round of the FA Vase. Millbrook FC are in town, a side from Hampshire who sit 15th in the Wessex Football League Premier (also step five).

Their form has been inconsistent of late, winning four and losing four of their last eight. On the weekend, they lost 3-1 at home to third-placed Hamworthy Recreation.

Regardless, it promises to be an enticing cup, with a home league game against Shepton Mallet to follow on Saturday, November 15.