THERE were no fewer than 30 penalties taken in the shootout that saw Buckland Athletic progress to the third round of the FA Vase.

Manager Matt Cusack joked that “It felt like it would never end” and that was a sentiment shared by all in attendance at The VX3 Stadium, the final tally standing at 12-11 in favour of the hosts.

Debutant Isaac McCue, who Cusack labelled as “outstanding”, had the final say from the spot, converting both of his penalties and assisting his side’s second goal on the day.

Prior to kick-off in Newton Abbot, a minute's silence was impeccably observed to pay respects ahead of Remembrance Day.

Buckland “started really well and on the front foot” in the words of Cusack, with a goal to show for it too. Captain Ben Carter was afforded far too much space by the Millbrook players and so, from 25 yards out, he fired home into the bottom corner after just seven minutes.

McCue was then shown a yellow card for a dive on the edge of the area, Phil Mendonca and a Millbrook defender following suit for separate fouls.

The visitors “started to look threatening and got in behind a few times,” players and staff alike convinced that they should have been awarded a penalty. Their persistence eventually paid off though, Tommy Nelson sweeping home an equaliser on the brink of half-time.

To concede so close to the break was “frustrating” for the Bucks, prompting “a change of shape.”

Cusack’s switch proved effective as Buckland were quickly in the ascendancy, fashioning a few strong chances. Ryan Bush and Scott Pocock both went close but you can’t deny the former for long.

“A great ball” from the “magnificent” debutant sent Bush on his way and despite goalkeeper Jon Webb getting a strong hand to it, the striker’s shot found its way over the line, making it three goals in the last three Vase outings for Bush.

To go with his latest goal in yellow, Bush did his best Viktor Gyokeres in celebration.

In the first half, Millbrook were at their best having just conceded and this proved to be the case once again. A Buckland attacking corner led to a swift counterattack and Callum Drake clinically converted on the break to make it 2-2.

This goal wasn’t without controversy though, the Buckland boss commenting: “I thought it was offside, I thought the lad looked a good five yards offside but the linesman claimed that two of ours were playing him on so we’ll watch it back and we’ll see.”

Neither team were able to find a late winner and perhaps rightly so, “It would have been cruel if either side had lost it at that point” in Cusack’s eyes.

A penalty shootout was in store at Homers Heath as a result and it couldn’t have been more different than the one which saw Buckland reach this stage. They hit back in the final knockings away at Bishops Lydeard before beating them 3-0 on penalties, goalkeeper Andrew Sowden-Bird saving all three attempts that he faced.

This time around, Buckland and Millbrook went back and forth, taking 15 penalties each before they could be separated.

Sowden-Bird who, prior to kick-off, was awarded the club’s player of the month prize, saved another three penalties whilst one of Millbrook’s spot-kicks went sailing over the crossbar.

For Buckland, the side shooting second, Jordan Copp, Toby Dell and Sowden-Bird were the trio to come up short, although Copp did convert his second penalty and at the end of the day, their team advanced all the same.

Ahead of the shootout, Cusack was “confident that we were going to get the job done”, pointing to two previous attempts as great experience. Whilst they beat Bishops Lydeard as previously mentioned, there was also the St Luke’s Challenge Cup defeat away at rivals Bovey Tracey AFC.

Cusack cut a “delighted” figure when offering his final assessment: “Cup competitions are always about just finding a way to get through to the next round and we’ve managed to do that.

“This is an important competition for us, a national competition, a competition we want to do really well in and so we’re proud of the boys today.”

Buckland will learn their fourth-round opponents in the coming days and next up for them is another home game, Shepton Mallet coming to town on Saturday, November 15.

Click here to watch the matchday video of this game from The Devon Mackem himself.

1. Millbrook nine scores, 1-0.

2. Ryan Bush scores, 1-1.

3. Millbrook 15 scores, 2-1.

4. Myles James scores, 2-2.

5. Andrew Sowden-Bird saves, still 2-2.

6. Jordan Copp is denied, still 2-2.

7. Millbrook four scores, 3-2.

8. Isaac McCue scores, 3-3.

9. Millbrook seven scores, 4-3.

10. Ben Carter scores, 4-4.

11. Millbrook goalkeeper scores, 5-4.

12. Harvey Roche scores, 5-5.

13. Millbrook 12 scores, 6-5.

14. Scott Pocock scores, 6-6.

15. Sowden-Bird saves, still 6-6.

16. Toby Dell is denied, still 6-6.

17. Millbrook 10 scores, 7-6.

18. Luke Forward scores, 7-7.

19. Millbrook six shoots over the bar, still 7-7.

20. Sowden-Bird is off target too, still 7-7.

21. Millbrook five scores, 8-7.

22. Rafael Beadman scores, 8-8.

23. Back to the start now and Millbrook nine scores again, 9-8.

24. Bush scores again, 9-9.

25. Millbrook 15 scores again, 10-9.

26. Myles James scores again, 10-10.

27. Millbrook seven scores again, 11-10.

28. Copp scores, 11-11.

29. Sowden-Bird denies Millbrook four, still 11-11.

30. McCue scores again, on his debut, to send Buckland through. Final tally is 12-11.