WHAT better way to bounce back from four games without a win than by beating the Western League leaders in their own backyard?

Buckland Athletic manager Matt Cusack labelled his team’s 1-0 victory away at Clevedon Town as a “statement result”, inflicting just a third defeat upon the Somerset side.

It remained goalless at The Moneymates Hand Stadium right up until the final few minutes, when Rafael Beadman made a timely interception to set the Bucks on the attack.

The fullback then played Phil Mendonca down the line who, after a mazy run, picked out Ben Carter and the skipper made the difference from the edge of the area, his shot looping over the Clevedon goalkeeper courtesy of a slight deflection.

This win, a seventh of the league campaign to date, moves Buckland back up to seventh in the table with playoff football firmly in their sights through a third of the season.

A 4-1 win for Paulton Rovers away at Sidmouth Town has seen them cut the deficit to Clevedon to a single point whilst Torpoint Athletic are only two points further back with games in hand on both.

Buckland’s rivals in the division Ivybridge Town also tasted victory on the weekend, beating Bridgwater United 3-0 at Erme Valley. Man of the match Kai Burrell struck twice, one of which was a stunner, before substitute Charlie Menear put the icing on the cake.

Moving forward now and the Yellows have a midweek league outing to come before two cup games in a row.

Fourth-placed Saltash United will be the visitors at The VX3 Stadium on the evening of Wednesday, October 15.

An FA Vase showdown away at Peninsula League side Bishops Lydeard follows on Saturday 18, and then, in the Les Phillips Cup, Bridgwater make the trip to Newton Abbot on Wednesday 22.