Bideford battle past Bridgwater in FA Cup

A solitary strike from Josh Webber was enough to book Bideford a home meeting with Wellington in the next round of the FA Cup after a stodgy battle at the Sports Ground.

Webber tested the Bridgwater goalkeeper Matias Korsagen with an early strike but the game was generally very even in the opening exchanges. Mike Searle produced a superb save for Biddy midway through the half to maintain parity, somehow tipping over a deflected free-kick.

Ryan Turner spurned a decent opportunity after breaching the Bridgwater defence before a free-kick from summer signing Ciaran Bridger shaved the outside of the post.

The Robins cranked up the pressure after half-time, a low drive from Finn Roberts cleared off the line and Webber lashing wide from a good position. The goal was coming, and it arrived on 69 minutes, Webber firing home the loose ball from a long throw with Bridgwater claiming an infringement in the box.

The frustration was too much for Charlie Perkins in the visiting defence, who received a second yellow minutes later but the match remained tight until the very end. Bideford’s competitive campaign is up and running.

Ilfracombe Town began their FA Cup journey with a difficult home tie against Southern League Tavistock, but the Bluebirds were tremendous in the first half, placing their higher-ranked visitors under a bombardment of pressure.

Jamie Hearsay forced a strong early save from the Tavvy custodian, Sammy Wright hit the post and Liam Short also went close to breaking the deadlock.

Tavvy were relieved to regroup at the interval and they pinched the lead with a close-range finish from Liam Prynn. Ilfracombe worked tirelessly but were unable to rediscover their first-half form, and the visitors secured progress with a super strike from Ed Harrison.

Goals from Brad Williams and Will Tucker gave Torrington the ideal start to the South-West Peninsula League season, as they secured an efficient 2-0 home win over Bishops Lydeard.