GOALS from Josh Webber and Ben Carter weren’t enough to stop Buckland Athletic falling to their first defeat of pre-season last night.

Paul Froude’s side followed up Saturday’s victory over Willand Rovers by losing 4-2 against Peninsula Premier East side Brixham at Wall Park.

The hosts had their noses in front after barely three minutes when former Dartmouth man Cole Harford steered his side into the lead.

The Fishermen continued to apply pressure and keep visiting keeper Dom Aplin busy – while at the other end his opposite number Grand Fisher was called into action for a couple of regulation saves.

Arguably Buckland’s best chance of the first half fell to striker Ryan Bush, who pounced on a misplaced pass just before the break but saw his shot blocked.

There were some strong words from Froude and assistant manager Danny Gaze at the interval, but nine minutes into the second half and the Bucks were another goal behind.

Substitute Luke Emmanuel sent a perfect low delivery across the box to leave Josh Parry with the simple task of slotting home.

This looked to have shocked the visitors into life, and they had a goal back just a couple of minutes later when Webber forced an effort past Fisher.

But with 65 minutes played the hosts would be given another chance to extend their lead when Gaze, subbed on at left-back, gave away a penalty.

Replacement keeper Andy Collings saved Harford’s spot kick, but the assistant referee spotted that he had stepped off his line in the process.

Collings got a fingertip to the re-taken effort but Harford squeezed the ball into the corner for his second of the night.

The Bucks lost Cieran Bridger to the sin bin, but Carter managed to bundle in their second from a corner on 78 minutes to make it 3-2.

Parry missed a golden opportunity at the other end to extend Brixham’s lead again when he couldn’t connect with another low delivery.

But the result was sealed with four minutes to go when Gaze capped off a night to forget by giving away another penalty – which was converted by ex-Bovey Tracey youngster Tor Swann.

After superior fitness got Buckland over the line against Willand, Froude said that he felt his side just weren’t as up for it as Brixham were on the night.

‘We don’t know what’s changed,’ he said. ‘That’s what we were just discussing in the changing rooms. Brixham would’ve been bang up for the game and we weren’t, and we had to be.

‘We think we’ll turn tonight into a positive in respect of knowing that whoever we play, regardless of the level of opposition, we need to be at it. If we’re not then things like this will happen. A lesson learned tonight, for sure.’

Buckland are set to entertain Southern League South side Plymouth Parkway at Homers Heath on Saturday – the latest in a string of friendlies against higher-level opposition.

‘We’re probably in the same position that Brixham were in tonight,’ Froude explained ‘That’s something that we need to look at as a group, because I’m a little bit sore after tonight even though it’s a friendly.

‘Ultimately it’s minutes in legs and the result doesn’t mean a thing, but tonight it’s more to do with attitude.’