Robins clipped by a failure to take chances at The Sports Ground

Bideford AFC spurned a big chance to open up a healthy cushion above the Southern League relegation zone after falling to a 2-1 home defeat to Hartpury.

The Robins were excellent in the opening stages, deservedly taking the lead when good play from Scott Robinson created space for Finn Roberts to smash home the first goal inside 13 minutes.

The chances kept flowing in Bideford’s direction, Alex Moyse forcing a top save from the Hartpury custodian before Jack Winsor fizzed a drive narrowly wide.

Gradually, however, the visitors began to find some attacking impetus of their own, and they were rewarded in the dying seconds of the first period, when Louis Manning was given the freedom of North Devon to fire home the leveller.

Hartpury took that momentum into the early exchanges of the second period and ultimately grabbed the winner when a Manning cross deflected off a Bideford leg for an unfortunate own goal.

The Robins cranked up the pressure for an equaliser as the half wore on, arguably creating their best chance in stoppage time, but Robinson was unable to find the target after good play from Jordan Ewing.