Robins miss chance to join the top three

One of the few games to survive the weekend monsoons in the Southern League was the Devon derby between Bideford and Willand Rovers, which was a crucial game at the top of the division. 

A win for the Robins would have taken them above Rovers, but Willand took full advantage of an early slice of luck to bag the three points that returned them to the summit of Division One South, as the battle of the previous top two, Bemerton Heath and Wimborne, ended goalless. 

After a tight start, Willand grabbed the lead from an own goal and it set the platform for them to win the game. The Robins did respond and clipped the bar with a Finn Roberts effort but the score remained in Willand’s favour at the break. 

Bideford tried to crank up the pressure, again hitting the bar and forcing two good saves from the visiting goalkeeper but Willand confirmed the win with a breakaway goal from Ollie Bray five minutes from time.

Tavistock’s weekend clash with Melksham Town was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch but the Lambs will know that maximum points from their games in hand could take them into the promotion picture.

Barnstaple and Ilfracombe both had a weather-enforced break in the Toolstation Western League but the one game that did go ahead turned out to be a cracker in South Devon, where Torpoint Athletic ended Brixham’s seven-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory. Helston also took the chance to assume third position with a 3-1 win over Nailsea & Twickenham.

In the Devon Cups, AFC Dumnonii were too strong for Buckland Athletic 2nds but there were defeats for Braunton and South Molton.

Braunton 2nds did bring some cheer in the Senior Division of the NDFL, trouncing Bideford 2nds 5-0 to move within three points of leaders Ilfracombe Town 2nds. The only other game was played in the Premier Division, where Appledore 2nds helped themselves to a 5-1 win over ten-man Holsworthy 2nds.