Top ten triumph for Barnstaple Town

Barnstaple Town are up to second in the Jewson Western League after a ruthless 10-0 walloping of struggling Welton Rovers.

After being forced into an early change due to a knock for Harvey Dennis, Barum settled into their task with the opening goal tucked away by Joe Grigg slotting into the bottom corner and Josh Parry then scored the first of his four goals.

It was pretty much game over when Gabby Rogers added a third but Barum were showing no mercy, Parry making it 4-0. A penalty from Tommy Rogers was next on the list and a first goal in the red of Barnstaple for Cole Harford completed the first-half scoring.

Barum had the luxury of freshening up their ranks before a tidy finish from Brodie Montague poured more pain on Welton. Parry then completed his hat-trick and the day was rounded off by a second for Gabby Rogers, plus another for Parry.

There was plenty of effort, endeavour and determination from Ilfracombe Town but they were unable to prevent a 2-0 loss at Brislington, a result that leaves the Bluebirds in 15th, ahead of Saltash United and St Blazey on goal difference.

A long trip to the depths of Cornwall proved fruitless for ten-man Bideford, as they suffered a late 2-1 defeat at Helston Athletic.

The Robins performed very well in the first half and got their reward for a positive showing in the Cornish sunshine when a deep cross from Alex Moyse was superbly headed into the top corner by Cieran Bridger.

The game changed just two minutes later, when Aaron Taylor was shown a straight red card for a robust challenge, leaving the Robins to play almost an hour with ten men.

The Robins resisted the Helston pressure until 72 minutes but were undone by a Jack Crago header and there was last-minute heartbreak in store for Sean Joyce’s men. Mike Searle had been outstanding with the gloves for Bideford but there was nothing he could do to prevent last-gasp 25-yarder that arrowed into the bottom corner.