Being reduced to 10 men is usually the cue to sit back, get tight and shut up shop. Unless you are Buckden, that is.

In that case, the preferred method of dealing with a numerical disadvantage for an hour of a Cambs League clash is hitting the net five times to secure an 8-1 derby victory.

That is exactly what happened last Saturday as Jack Goodger’s men slammed struggling local rivals St Ives Rangers 8-1 in a Division 1B game switched to the 3G pitch at Hinchingbrooke School.

The change of the venue proved to be worthwhile for the promotion-chasing villagers, who shrugged off the first-half dismissal of Jonathan Love by going on a scoring spree.

Love received his marching orders after collecting two cautions in quick succession with his team three goals to the good thanks to two Josh Smith efforts which sandwiched a Graeme Marks strike.

Buckden’s lead was cut soon after the sending off by a Jack Rayner goal, but it was only a brief blip as they made light of being a man light.

Marks grabbed his second and Smith completed his hat-trick before James Woo, Sam Underwood and Darren Scutt completed the rout.

Manager Goodger said: “I thought to myself “here we go” after we went down to 10 men and they scored.

“But St Ives didn’t seem to want to know in the second half. They just let us play and we took full advantage to score goals.

“It’s a result which keeps us moving in the right direction in terms of promotion.”

Buckden have now scored 22 times in three games against Rangers this season after beating them 4-0 and 10-0 in the initial staging and replay of a county cup tie.

Eaton Socon Reserves retained second place thanks to a solitary strike from substitute Aidan Stockwell as they saw off Huntingdon United in another derby clash last Saturday.

Stand-in goalkeeper Tom Hunt saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet as Paxton United Reserves won 3-0 at Meldreth in Division 2A.

Brian Smith (2) and Robin Clancy hit the goals to ease their relegation fears.

Captain Greg Cooper came to the rescue for Offord United in Division 3A. Cooper hit the crucial goal to earn a 3-2 victory over Hardwick A after his side had earlier seen a two-goal advantage, provided by Damian Sharp, wiped out.

Alconbury Reserves continued their climb from the relegation zone into the top half of Division 3B with a fourth win in five games.

Kristien Strickson-Head struck twice in a 6-4 success at Wimblington Reserves. Ben Taylor, Stuart McKay, Adam Spratt and Jon Gull also found the net.