GOALKEEPER Ryan Chadwick was the hero as the Magpies ground out a 1-0 victory over neighbours Bude Town at Upcott Field on Friday night.

The home stopper made three superb second half saves to preserve a lead which was given to them by Ollie Moores’ first half header in front of a healthy derby day crowd of 435.

Holsworthy, who had lost just one of their last eight league games, were without midfielder Craig Penberthy with Toby Martyn coming in. Gavin Carter moved up front with wing-back Callum Martyn coming in for striker Elis Aldrich.

Bude were without midfielders Archie Perrott and Steve Box, but were able to start the mercurial Maximus Alvarez-Lopera who was their best player on the night.

The only bits of excitement in the first 25 minutes saw Bude’s Callum Deemer look dangerous on a couple of occasions, before Sam Jago was crowded out after a home counter-attack.

Bude striker Callum Deemer looked dangerous a couple of times in the opening 20 minutes while the visiting defence had to get back well as Sam Jago advanced forward.

The deadlock was broken on 28 minutes with a simple set-piece after the Seasiders stupidly gave away a corner.

Jay Thomas swung it in from the right and centre-half Ollie Moores planted a header past former Magpie Ty Rowe.

Visiting skipper Ewan Reeves was booked for a poor tackle on Kieran Jollow as the wing-back broke forward, before Bude’s Jake Woodland shot over from 20 yards.

Moores was yellow-carded for clattering into a player as a dreadful half came to its end.

Bude changed to a 4-3-3 at the break and immediately got on top, while Holsworthy had to bring on Barnstaple centre-half Lee Gardiner in place of the injured Moores.

On 57 minutes Chadwick had to tip Harvey Dennis’ looping header from eight yards on to the bar after Joel Greening flicked it on.

From the resulting corner, home striker Gavin Carter was in the right place to head away Reeves’ goal-bound header.

Chadwick had to be at his best just after the hour to dive full stretch to his right to tip away Joe Edmonds’ left-footed drive from 25 yards.

Both sides made substitutions just after the hour as Holsworthy boss Ryan Hall switched to a 4-3-3 as well with just under 20 minutes to go.

Sub Max McDonald crashed a 25-yard drive against the bar as the hosts launched a rare counter, but the final Chadwick bit of brilliance with 13 minutes remaining was the best of the lot.

Alvarez-Lopera’s 22-yard free-kick took a slight deflection off the wall and looked destined for the bottom left corner, but Chadwick’s left-hand kept it out.

The Devonians then held on for a scarcely-deserved victory as Bude failed to create another chance.

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Jedd Peschke (capt), Sam Hill, Ollie Moores; Callum Martyn, Aidan Slade, Toby Martyn, Jay Thomas, Kieran Jollow; Gavin Carter, Sam Jago. Subs: Todd Peschke, Elis Aldrich, Lee Gardiner, Dean Hutchings, Max McDonald.

BUDE TOWN: Ty Rowe; Aaron White, James Wheeler, Ewan Reeves (capt); Aaron Hart, Harvey Dennis, Jake Woodland, Maximus Alvarez-Lopera, Joe Edmonds; Callum Deemer, Joel Greening. Subs: Wes Pugh, Jago Tweitman, Jamie Gorst, Fin Haste, Connor Jenkins.

Men-of-the-match: Holsworthy – Ryan Chadwick; Bude Town – Maximus Alvarez-Lopera.