Penalty pain for Barnstaple Town

Two of the leading sides in Western League football locked horns in a Les Phillips Cup quarter-final that ultimately came down to the drama of a penalty shoot-out.

Barnstaple Town and Brixham AFC are separated by just a single point in the league, although Barum have games in hand, but all thoughts of chasing down leaders Clevedon went out of the window in a pulsating cup clash in North Devon.

There was nothing between the sides in the opening period, a theme that continued throughout, but a sublime finish from Scott Piper saw Barum edge in front in the final minute of the first half. Incredibly, the Fishermen immediately sauntered up the other end and levelled the scores with a goal from Reece Somers.

 It continued to be a tense struggle after the break but when home substitute Luke Cloke was shown the red card, Barnstaple were understandably content for the game to be settled on penalties.

Barum initially held the advantage in the spot-kick lottery, with Brixham missing their second penalty, but the hosts faltered at the death and the Fishermen were the side to progress with a 4-5 win in a dramatic conclusion to the game.

A late winner from Archie Reay ensured Bideford AFC now have a ten-point cushion above the bottom four in Division One South of the Southern League. Looking up the table, Bideford are just ten points behind the play-off positions.

Helston were the visitors to the Sports Ground on Saturday and they created the first opening with a surging run and cross from Reece Thomson, but Henry Richards was in the right place to make a crucial interception.

A decent save from Mike Searle kept the Robins level in a sluggish opening half from the hosts. Bideford gradually cranked up their tempo after the break, Louie Slough heading narrowly wide before a Josh Webber strike was blocked by the Helston defence.

In general, however, the game remained very close and chances at a premium. It would take one moment of attacking quality, and Reay was the man to deliver, calmly slotting home after a loose ball fell kindly in the penalty area.

Bideford host Falmouth Town next Saturday, with the Cornishmen one point above them in the table, so a chance for the Robins to continue their steady climb upwards, although Falmouth will be feeling fruity after a superb 6-0 triumph at Thatcham Town.

Exmouth Town continue to be the top Devon outfit in this division but their mammoth task of chasing down leaders Yate Town suffered a minor setback with a frustrating 1-1 draw at local rivals Willand Rovers, who are one place below Bideford in the table.

Tavistock have a lot of work on their plate to climb away from trouble. A 1-0 home defeat to Bishops Cleeve leaves the Lambs six points from safety.

In the South West Peninsula League, Torrington fought manfully before going down to a 4-1 loss at leaders Sidmouth Town, while goals from George Shapland, Blake Shapland and Tyler Evans-Loude gave Torridgeside a 3-0 win over bottom club Axminster.