The score line doesn’t quite reflect how the away side managed to match their opponents for long spells, but in the end, Buckland’s attacking quality shone through mid-way into the second half.

The first half saw Callington go toe-to-toe with their hosts who can boast an array of experienced players who have previously played with higher league teams around the region.

The game was fast-paced and both sides drove forward whenever in possession. Buckland looked a particular threat down their left-hand side with winger Emily Hannaford giving Town full-back Luise Ham a real testing afternoon. Inside the first 20 minutes, she twice she delivered dangerous crosses into the box but Town managed to clear the danger. Hannaford then headed over the bar with the goal at her mercy following a cross from the opposite wing. Callington were causing problems at the other end with Amy Hemingway flashing three excellent balls across the face of the Buckland goal. On one occasion a Buckland defender almost turned it into her own net with Marment closing in behind her.

Then with 25 minutes on the clock, Buckland’s Kirsty Caunter made a powerful run into the box before cleverly lifting the ball over the out-rushing Sara Rowe. Town dusted themselves off and continued to attack on the break. They came close on half-an-hour with a Gemma Farley free-kick testing Bond. They were close again moments later following a lobbed effort from Grace O’Leary which dropped onto the roof of net with the keeper well-beaten.

Going the other way, Rowe was still being called into action as she tipped a fierce shot over the bar from 20 yards. Tyler Matthews also made an outstanding last-ditch sliding tackle inside the area to deny the deadly Laura Gough as she looked clean through on goal.

Callington were unlucky to be a goal behind at the break given their spirited first half performance.

The second half was a different story however, as Buckland seemed to grow in confidence as the minutes ticked by. Soon after the re-start they grabbed the all-important second goal. From Callington’s perspective it was a cruel deflected strike which wrong-footed the keeper. Gough claimed the goal, but it was a visibly deflating sucker-punch for Callington who’s task then looked a real up-hill struggle.

Callington continued to match their opponents in midfield with O’Leary and Jodie Shipton both putting in notable displays in the centre. However, the heavy pitch seemed to drain the away side and Buckland looked like adding a third. Callington almost pulled it back to 2-1 when a Stacey Derrick shot was parried into the path of young substitute Eleri Griffiths but she couldn’t manage to keep her shot below the cross-bar from close-range.

At the other end, Rowe was found in inspired form, making a number of fine saves to keep her team in the game. Eventually the resistance broke when Gough grabbed her second of the game with a great finish into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area.

Town rung the changes in a bid to chase the game and try to pull a goal back but shortly before the final whistle Buckland added a fourth. Natalie Warman struck the ball cleanly through a crowd of players after Callington failed to clear their lines after a corner.

After the game Callington manager Adam McPherson said: “It was always going to be a huge task to go there and win. We needed them to have an off-day and unfortunately for us, they didn’t. We had a full-strength squad available and yet we still didn’t have quite enough within us to get the result we wanted. You have to hand it to them in that they are incredibly efficient at getting the ball into their danger players quickly, and it’s those individuals who are the real difference at this level.”

Callington’s player of the match was awarded to Sara Rowe who pulled off a string of top saves throughout the match.

Town will look to bounce back in yet another cup game this Sunday when they host St Agnes Ladies in the Cornwall County Cup.