Barnstaple win on the road with superb win at Helston Athletic

After the joy of an FA Cup triumph at Willand Rovers, Barnstaple Town recorded their first points of the Western League season with an impressive victory at Helston Athletic.

Barum were outstanding in the first half on a sunny day in the depths of Cornwall, grabbing the lead when a deep corner from Gabby Rogers picked out Brad Williams to nod past the home custodian from close range.

Josh Parry was next on the Barum scoring menu, using all his physical prowess to hold off a Helston defender before prodding the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Rogers added number three, although there was a little stress involved, as his initial penalty was expertly saved but the Barum talisman reacted first to slot home the rebound. Helston did grab a consolation with a super strike after the break but three deserved points went home to Barnstaple.

“The lads worked really hard in the first half,” said Barum boss Ben Potter. “It was a different second half with the wind against us but we defended really well as a unit to get the job done. The front three all scored, so a good day all round.”

Next up for Barum is a visit from Southern League Tavistock in the Emirates FA Cup.

A two-goal burst in the space of just two first-half minutes ultimately consigned Bideford AFC to a 2-1 home defeat against Westbury United on the opening day of the Southern League season.

There was little to report in the opening quarter of the game, both sides feeling their way into the campaign, but it all changed on 24 minutes, when a loose back-pass was seized by Josh Jenkins to roll the visitors in front.

The Robins had barely digested the setback before one became two, as another long ball forward saw Ackeem Stewart power his way into space and rifle an unstoppable finish into the top corner.

Bideford looked shellshocked and only began to find some rhythm in their play after the half-time break. Substitute Frank Rosenwald had an inswinging corner tipped over at full stretch by the Westbury ‘keeper before Javan Wright fizzed a drive narrowly wide.

The Robins finally got their goal on 65 minutes and a fine strike from Archie Reay, as his volley seared into the roof of the net. Bideford now had belief and were throwing men forward in search of an equaliser.

While Westbury continued to look dangerous on the counter, Bideford were causing more problems, with Louie Slough and Rosenwald both going close. Ryan Turner had the final effort, an acrobatic volley sailing wide to confirm a defeat for Bideford.

After a midweek trip to Shaftesbury, the Robins travel to Falmouth Town in the FA Cup on Saturday.