BUDE Town boss Steve Hackett praised his side’s second half turnaround but labelled the opening 45 minutes as ‘unacceptable’ after a 1-1 draw at Camelford on Friday night in SWPL Premier West.

The Seasiders trailed 1-0 at the break thanks to Olly Taylor’s close range finish, but debutant Joe Barker’s 25-yard thunderbolt earned the visitors a point.

Hackett told the Post: “Our first half performance was completely unacceptable.

“We didn’t close down quick enough, didn’t win the first or second ball and gave them too much respect.

“I guess a bit of our inexperience showed. Lots of our players hadn’t tasted a local derby under lights before and the occasion got to them.

“But at half-time there were a few choice words said, reminding them that work-rate and energy are the bare minimum, and as a result we were much-improved and helped us get something out of the game.”

Bude switched to a 4-3-3 at the interval, which prompted a fine response.

He said: “Changing formation really helped. Bringing Ruan (Tape) in centrally with his work-rate and with how we played in the second half, we probably did enough to win.

“But the character we showed was really pleasing and I was pleased with how he had a go at them.”

Bude, who are on 11 points, welcome bottom side Launceston on Wednesday (7.30pm).

Hackett added: “Launceston on Wednesday is a huge game for us, but the squad is looking good.

“We’ll be missing George Harvey again as he’s broken his ribs and Joe Reeve has just become a father, but we’re really looking forward to this one and trying to get the three points.

“But we know it’ll be a tough game and we need to learn from the Camelford game in that we need to play like we did in the second half throughout the 90 minutes.”