BUCKLAND Athletic muscled their way into a Western League playoff position with an “emphatic” 8-0 win over Shepton Mallet on Saturday, November 15.

It was a new-look Mallet side that made the trip from Somerset to Newton Abbot, several key individuals siding with the managerial duo who were controversially dismissed earlier in the week and players from the reserves filling the void.

Matt Cusack, the Buckland boss, praised the opposition whilst also commenting: “I don’t feel that we would have registered that scoreline had the outgoing management team been in charge but that’s not for us to go over.”

After a barrage of wasteful Buckland attacks, they finally grabbed the opening goal after 30 minutes of play.

Captain Ben Carter swung in a corner and it was headed beyond Mallet goalkeeper Jackson by one of his own defenders, unfortunately so for the visitors.

Ryan Bush thought he had made it 2-0 when he converted from a Phil Mendonca cross but the ball had crossed the byline before the latter got to it according to the linesman (and nobody else at The VX3 Stadium). Cusack noted that “Even [the Mallet] players said it had stayed in. On the flipside, they had a good penalty shout early on” which the referee waved away.

The home side were two goals to the good heading into the break though, Jamie Simmonds heading home an Isaac McCue corner to double his side’s lead and also, his tally for the club.

Despite the half-time advantage, Buckland were far from their best up to this point, Bush labelling it as a “lacklustre” performance.

Cusack echoed these sentiments: “I thought we were laboured in the first half, it was a little bit flat and there wasn’t much to shout about.

“We said to the players at halftime that it’s a bit flat out there, the crowd are a bit flat because that’s what you’re selling them. Go out and entertain them now and we got that response.”

Within five minutes of play resuming, the Yellows’ lead had extended to four goals thanks to the ever-reliable Bush.

Fullback Rafael Beadman thought he had scored a long-awaited first goal for Buckland after Jackson was unable to deal with his deep cross, raising his arms in jubilation after the fact. His bubble was quickly burst though with Bush jogging over to confirm that he got the final touch at the far post.

There was no doubting the scorer of the fourth, Mendonca tackling on halfway before going on one of his trademark runs. The tricky winger pulled it back for Bush who smashed home into the empty net.

Talking of Mendonca and he was next to strike in a reversal of the roles, Bush working hard outwide and Mendonca then finding the top corner after a miscued clearance.

Cusack admitted to being “frustrated” by Mendonca in the first half, saying that he was “wasteful by his own standards.”

Conversely, he then “showed exactly why he’s in the team with two assists and a goal”. Mendonca’s goal, his first for the club, was well overdue and hopefully, the floodgates will open now and he can kick on from here.”

Bush added the sixth by sending a rocket into the top corner at the near post and he was “buzzing to get a hat-trick on a personal level.”

Mendonca was one of three Bucks to open their accounts for the side, McCue making it 7-0 before a trio of substitutes, Harvey Roche, Toby Hard and Toby Pullman linked up well for the eighth and final goal, rounded off by Pullman.

After completing his treble, “marksman and talisman” Bush was removed from the firing line as Buckland “needed to wrap him up ahead of a big week with games against Wellington and Torpoint.”

McCue was another to be subbed off and he was on a yellow, but this wasn’t before he made a difference with Cusack complimenting his performance.

“Again, delighted with Isaac. I’ve had spectators pulling me aside before the game today to talk about his impact last week and how he’s going to become a favourite here.” He also sung the praises of those who came off of the bench and “helped deliver that pace and impact right until the final whistle.”

Ahead of the aforementioned midweek trip to Wellington, Mendonca’s former stomping ground, Buckland Athletic are up to fifth in the Western League and in the playoff spots.

Theirs is the only league outing in the coming days and so the Bucks could move as high as second with a win by two or more goals before they visit third-placed Torpoint Athletic at The Mill.