Bideford show teeth in seven-goal win in Wiltshire

Andy Keeble Tuesday, February 5, 2013
2:50 PM

Robins record biggest win of the season after two weeks without a game.

Bideford celebrate during the 7-1 goal-fest at Chippenham Town on Saturday. Pic by Richard Chappell

BIDEFORD’S Evo-stik Southern League season roared back to life with a 7-1 mauling of Chippenham Town on Saturday.

While the reserves side was being dealt a humiliating blow against rivals Boca Seniors at the Sports Ground, the first team was dishing out some footballing lessons of its own in Wiltshire.

Chippenham haven’t won a Premier Division game since the beginning of December and there was no sign of the Bluebirds ending their eight-match hoodoo against a rampant Robins side playing their first match in two weeks.

Kevin Squire and Sean Downing bagged two each and there were singles for Aaron Harper-Penman, Matt Bye and Matt Andrew as Bideford moved one place ahead of their opponents in the table.

Squire opened the scoring on 18 minutes and the visitors took a 3-0 lead through Harper-Penman and a Bye strike on the stroke of half-time.

Tom Knighton pulled one back for the hosts five minutes after the break but a Downing double in the space of three minutes gave Bideford a commanding 5-1 lead with more than half-an-hour left to play.

Matt Andrew made it five goals in five games with the Robins’ sixth on 73 minutes and Squire supplied extra gloss on the win with goal number seven, 10 minutes from time.

Bideford are at home to Arlesey Town on Saturday.