Official Bideford AFC football club website

Bideford put in an excellent first half performance, goals from Ian Down, Robbie Gough and Rob Francis take them up to 6th place in the table.

Pre-match, things looked very bleak in the Bideford side, strikers Jamie Densham and Antony Mason were ruled out in the morning due to flu, and Darren Hawkins was injured in the pre-match warm up. Added to that, the weather was absolutly gastly with strong winds around the pitch sure to make playing conditions very difficult.

Bideford instantly looked the better side on the kickoff, the first quarter of an hour saw great team work and combinations for the Bideford side, leading to long patches of possession and dominance of the play. It only took 17 minutes for Bideford to open the scoring when a great 30 yard drive from Ian Down easily beat the keeper.

Bideford continues to dominate all through the first half, with Devizes never looking a danger to the Bideford defense. After 42 minutes the Robins went 0 - 2 up when Ian Down swung in a great cross from the wing for Darren Gough to collect and finish.

The half time whistle went and Bideford were in a very comfortable position in this match, with many Bideford players playing their socks off, but after the break Devizes came out firing and regained in composure. More errors at the back allowed Devizes to break free and slot a goal past Griffiths on 52 minutes.

This was a wake up call for Bideford who started to battle once again, and both sides had some great chances over the next 20 minutes in this fast paced half.

Bideford put the game pretty much out of reach when on 73 minutes, Bideford were awarded a free kick which Nick Barker crossed in to find the head of Rob Francis who made it 1 - 3.

The attacks continued and Devizes made it 2 - 3 on 83 minutes to make for a very tense last 7 minutes, but Bideford managed to hold on and pick up the points.

Attendance: 53

Next game is in the Les Phillips Cup at home to Melksham on the 18th October at 3pm