Penalty drama takes Bideford AFC forward in the FA Vase

It was never going to be easy for Bideford AFC once the FA Vase draw handed them a tough trip to fellow Southern League outfit Swindon Supermarine, but the Robins held their nerve in a tense finale.

After a bright start for Bideford, which saw both Jack Winsor and Jamie Hearsay going close to an opener, the Supermarine hosts grabbed the initiative with a swift break and emphatic finish from Joseph Selman on 11 minutes.

The Robins responded with more positive attacking work, Alex Moyse fizzing a super drive inches over the bar and an acrobatic effort from Oliver Gardner almost provided a spectacular leveller.

The equaliser their overall play deserved finally arrived seven minutes into the second half, when Hearsay powered through the home defence with a tremendous run and his final cross was perfect for the arriving Jordan Ewing to nod the ball back into the path of Javan Wright, who made no mistake from close range.

Swindon Supermarine then enjoyed their best spell of pressure and almost pinched the lead when James Harding pounced on a loose pass from the Bideford defence, and rounded custodian Shaun Semmens but the angle was mercifully too tight to find the net.

On to penalties, and the Bideford takers were exemplary, Ryan Turner, Charlie Wright, Aaron Taylor, Alex Moyse and Alex Byrne all converting for a perfect five from the spot. Harding missed the only penalty for Supermarine, meaning a 5-4 victory for the Robins.

Bideford’s Devon St Luke’s Bowl meeting with Teignmouth was cancelled after their opponents pulled out of the competition, so the next game will be a Southern League visit from Falmouth Town on Tuesday, September 30.

Joining Bideford in the next round of the FA Vase will be Barnstaple Town, who swept past Cheddar with an impressive 4-0 victory at Mill Road. Tommy Rogers was the star of the show, slotting a superb first-half hat-trick to quash any hope for the visitors.

The opener was a sublime touch and finish from Rogers, who then added the final touch to a flowing team move for his second. Rogers completed his treble before the break and there was added gloss with a fourth from skipper Lee Gardiner in the second half.

Ilfracombe Town were handed the daunting task of a trip south to Buckland Athletic, who have made a strong start to their Western League season. The Bluebirds did actually score first but then had no answer, as the hosts raced away with a 5-1 victory.

Elsewhere in the Vase, there were some top results for Peninsula League clubs, most notably East Division leaders Bovey Tracey battering Torpoint Athletic, from the division above, 5-0 in Cornwall.

Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police also upset a Western League outfit, defeating Helston Athletic 3-0 in South Devon. Newton Abbot Spurs took Bridgwater United all the way before losing on penalties.