DREAMS of a Wembley appearance are still alive for Buckland Athletic after their 3-1 FA Vase victory over Falmouth Town on Saturday.

The runaway Peninsula Premier West leaders were unbeaten in 18 games before their Second Round trip to Homers Heath.

But after going in level at the break, goals from Charlie Johansen and skipper Rich Groves saw the Bucks past their Cornish visitors and into the hat for the last 64.

The hosts didn’t wait long before knocking on Falmouth’s door – with Johansen scuffing wide in the first minute before Tor Swann headed a Josh Webber cross against the bar.

Tim Nixon had the ball in the back of the other net with 20 minutes played only to be denied by the linesman’s flag, and top scorer Luke Brabyn forced a good save out of Bucks stopper Andy Collings seven minutes later.

But on the half-hour mark the game got its opening goal, and it wasn’t one for the vocal travelling contingent to shout about.

Webber picked up the ball in midfield before beating two players and firing back across goalkeeper Ryan Barnes into the bottom right-hand corner.

Cieran Bridger had a shot palmed away by Barnes before Falmouth got back on level terms with three minutes until half-time.

Jack Bray-Evans embarked on a galloping run from his own half and eventually found Dave Broglino, who rounded off the counter-attack with a simple finish.

Buckland upped the ante after the break – with Swann in particular looking to have the bit firmly between his teeth down the right-hand side.

And just after the hour mark Bridger’s teasing ball across goal wasn’t dealt with and Johansen claimed the final touch at the far post to restore his side’s advantage.

Brabyn and Luke Barner saw efforts kept out in quick succession by Collings before the home side dealt the killer blow with just under 25 minutes left.

Swann, who was still making a nuisance of himself, beat his man and send a low cross in for Groves to fire home first time.

Tom Annear curled a Falmouth free-kick over the bar with 13 minutes left, but that was as close as his side came to a consolation.

After the game, Bucks boss Paul Froude highlighted the half-time break as the turning point with the two sides at level pegging.

‘We got into the lads a little bit at half-time because it was a similar series of events which we’ve been through in recent weeks,’ Froude said.

‘But credit to them, our players got on the ball and made a difference. Their determination to make things happen for us was key in the second half.

Tor [Swann] have the beating of most full-backs. He’s still a young lad so there are ups and downs, but particularly in the second half today he showed why we think he has all the tools to go as high as he wants.’

Buckland were without the services of Ryan Bush and Nick Milton Jr, both out with long-term injuries – as well as the cup-tied Levi Landricombe.

‘That’s quite a chunk of a team to be missing,’ Froude admitted. ‘But Mani [Skett] put himself about up top when he came on.

‘JJ [Evans] didn’t get as much game time as we’d have liked but still showed what he can add to the group.

‘We’re missing a few as we have been week in, week out, but we have the strength in depth to stay strong and win tough games like this.

‘And it was a tough game. They [Falmouth] would cope easily in the top half of the table in our league, in my opinion.’

The crowd at Homers Heath was bolstered by a strong contingent from the F-Troop – Falmouth’s large, vocal fanbase which has made the side a force to be reckoned with at home.

‘Their fans were all good as gold,’ said Froude. ‘You’re always going to get a bit of banter with hundreds of people like that, and theres always the risk of a few idiots – but there wasn’t that at all.

‘They clapped our lads off at the end, we’ve been talking to a number of them in the clubhouse and they’re all very complementary about us and how we played.

‘They’ve seen the level that they’re wanting to aspire to. It’s been a really positive day for the club on the whole.’

Buckland have since been drawn at home to fellow Western League side Wellington in the third round of the FA Vase, with the tie due to be played on Saturday, December 11 (3pm).

‘The Vase allows you to dream a bit,’ Froude added. ‘We’re not in the latter stages yet, but I’m a bit of a dreamer, the lads are dreamers and the longer we’re in it, the longer that dream can carry on.

‘We’ve got a really good group, and I know we’ll be a better team in 12 to 18 months. We just want to keep them together and days like these will help to do that.’

Froude and his players turn their attentions back to the Western League this Saturday for the visit of Cadbury Heath (3pm).

‘Football is just about doing the right things at the right time continually,’ said Froude. ‘If we do that then everything else takes care of itself.

‘I don’t get too carried away if we win four on the bounce and I don’t get too concerned if we’re not picking up points.

‘If you just keep doing the right things with a group of lads who want to run through brick walls then you’ll win more than you lose.’