Match Preview

The Robins of Devon face The Robins of Somerset as Bridgwater Town visit the Sports Ground on Tuesday evening.

A Brief History of Bridgwater Town FC
Bridgwater were originally founded in 1898 as Bridgwater Association Football Club and played in the Somerset Senior League but the club disbanded soon after their formation. A new Bridgwater AFC was formed in 1903 and played in local leagues such as the Clevedon & District, Weston & District, and Taunton & District leagues. The club disbanded before World War II. Following the war Crown Dynamos were formed and the club transformed into Bridgwater Town AFC in 1947. Bridgwater joined Western League Division Two in 1949 and won promotion to Division One in 1951/52. In 1960/61 Bridgwater reached the Second Round proper of the FA Cup where they lost to Oxford United and in 1961/62 they achieved the same feat, this time exiting the competition to Crystal Palace. Bridgwater were crowned Western League champions in 1967/68 and once again in 1980/81. They finished third in 1981/82 and accepted promotion to the Southern League Midland Division. However, due to financial trouble the club were forced to fold after the 1983/84 season. The club were reformed again as Bridgwater Town (1984) FC and took the place of Bridgwater's reserve team in the Somerset Senior League. Bridgwater rejoined Western League Division One in 1994/95 and in 1995/96 they finished second and were promoted to the Premier Division. In their tenth year back in the Premier, Bridgwater finished second and were promoted to Southern League Division One South & West for the 2006/07 season. In 2009/10 they finished third and narrowly missed out on promotion after losing 4-3 to Cirencester Town in the play-off final. Bridgwater have finished in the lower half of Division One over the last six seasons last year finishing in 19th position.

Form Guide
Just one league win from 19 games tells you that Bridgwater Town have a real fight on their hands to stay in the Southern League this season. They come into tonight's fixture off the back of seven straight defeats in which they've conceded 26 goals. However, prior to that they scored a shock win over high flying Tiverton Town as well as creditable draws with Shortwood United and Wimborne Town.

Bridgwater Town's last six (LLLLLL)
10/12/16 Didcot Town 4 Bridgwater Town 0 (League)
03/12/16 Bridgwater Town 1 Mangotsfield United 3 (League)
19/11/16 Bridgwater Town 0 Hereford 4 (League)
12/11/16 Bridgwater Town 2 Wantage Town 3 (League)
05/11/16 AFC Totton 2 Bridgwater Town 1 (League)
25/10/16 Barnstaple Town 5 Bridgwater Town 0 (League)

It's no wins in four for Bideford although performances have deserved more than two points from a possible twelve. The inability to convert chances, most notably in the home games against Mangotsfield and AFC Totton, has been the main problem. Bideford will be hoping to put that right tonight against bottom club Bridgwater but as Saturday's game against Totton proved, there are no easy games in this division.

Bideford's last six (WWLDLD)
10/12/16 Bideford 0 AFC Totton 0 (League)
03/12/16 North Leigh 2 Bideford 1 (League)
29/11/16 Tiverton Town 1 Bideford 1 (League)
26/11/16 Bideford 0 Mangotsfield United 1 (League)
19/11/16 Wantage Town 0 Bideford 2 (League)
12/11/16 Bideford 4 Swindon Supermarine 0 (League)

Most recent meetings
16/08/16 Bridgwater Town 1 Bideford 4 (League)
28/07/15 Bridgwater Town 2 Bideford 0 (Friendly)
16/10/12 Bridgwater Town 1 Bideford 1 *Bridgwater won on penalties (League Cup R1)
14/01/12 Bideford 4 Bridgwater Town 0 (League)
17/09/11 Bideford 2 Bridgwater Town 1 (FA Cup Q1)
16/08/11 Bridgwater Town 2 Bideford 4 (League)

Bideford vs Bridgwater Town
Southern League Division One South & West
Tuesday 13th December 2016
7:45pm Kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

Bridgwater Town FC
Website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bridgwatertownfc
Twitter: @OfficialBTFC84