Robins of Bideford rally to a rousing draw at Bishops Cleeve

Bideford AFC produced one of their best performances of the Southern League season to earn a battling 1-1 draw at high-flying Bishops Cleeve.

After a long trip to Gloucestershire, the Robins frustrated their hosts with a midfield tussle through the first quarter of the game, but Cleeve then broke the deadlock with a sumptuous curling strike from Toby Holland.

The home side have serious promotion credentials, demonstrating their power with a victory over Torquay United in the FA Cup last season, and Bideford were grateful to Shaun Semmens for a top save to keep the deficit at one goal.

Cleeve then spurned a glorious chance eight minutes before the break but it was Bideford who emerged for the restart with renewed attacking impetus, Jamie Hearsay and Javan Wright both forcing decent blocks from the home custodian.

The equaliser was coming, and duly arrived just past the hour, when Jack Winsor whipped over a lovely cross from a short corner routine and Scott Robinson was well placed to head home.

The Robins continued to look the more threatening outfit and were denied a strong penalty claim when Hearsay was hauled down in the box. Winsor then twice went close to pinching an unlikely winner but still a very satisfactory draw for Bideford.

Barnstaple Town had to settle for a point at home to St Blazey in the Western League. Gabby Rogers opened the scoring for Barum with a delightful free-kick steered into the top corner, and he then repeated the trick with an even better strike, again from a set-piece.

The visitors from Cornwall rallied to pulled one back moments before half-time and then equalised soon after the restart. Tommy Rogers restored the home lead with another superb strike but Blazey completed a thrilling 3-3 with a late leveller.

The top four in the South West Peninsula League East Division are opening a gap on the chasing pack. Bovey Tracey continue to lead the way, as goals from Owen Stockton, Stu Bowker, Cieran Bridger and Ollie Aplin gave them a 4-0 win over Okehampton Argyle.

Bridport are in second place, recording a hard-earned 2-0 win at a much-improved Torrington, while third-placed Newton Abbot Spurs defeated Ilminster Town 2-0 and Cullompton Rangers held off a spirited Ilfracombe Town to triumph 1-0.

Biggest winners of the day were Torridgeside, who heaped more pain on lowly Axminster Town, goals from Frank Rosenwald (2), Blake Shapland (2), Taren Stacey and Tyler Evans-Loude securing a 6-0 success.

Fremington are three points behind leaders Topsham Town in the Devon Football League, and they have a game in hand, while Appledore are neatly placed in sixth, closely followed by Boca Seniors.

Fremmy were in Devon Cup action on Friday night, powering past Budleigh Salterton with a 5-1 victory, thanks to goals from Kristian Drew, Sam Ellis, Archie Gammon, Cohen Phillips and substitute Jordan Knibbs.

Appledore welcomed Dartmouth in the League on Saturday, edging to a 2-1 triumph with goals from Rafe Barnes and Jamie Bowden, but Boca lost 2-4 at home to Exeter University. Ciaron Lishman and Jake Hawkins scored the consolation goals for the North Devon outfit.

Landkey Town are the early leaders in the Premier Division of the North Devon Football League. Their latest victory was a 2-0 success over mid-table Appledore Lions, Phife Brasington-Burns and Kyle Yeo scoring the goals. Shamwickshire Rovers and Braunton occupy second and third.

Bideford 2nds have a one-point lead at the top of the Senior Division, although Bradworthy in second have two games in hand and maximum points from their opening six fixtures. Josh Holmes and George King were on target in Bideford’s weekend win at Lynton, while Tudor Placinta and Niall Slade hit the net in Bradworthy’s 2-0 win at ten-man Shamwickshire 2nds.

South Molton sit in third and underlined their attacking prowess with a 7-0 demolition of lowly Merton, Leo Werner bagging a hat-trick, alongside a double from Will Haynes and further goals scored by Cameron Dobson and William Haynes.

Braunton 3rds and Langtree Lions are locked on 16 points each at the top of the Intermediate Division. Leo Barker and Andros Stavrinou both scored twice in Bideford’s 6-1 win over Holsworthy 3rds, while the Lions cruised to a 4-0 success at home to Hartland 2nds.