Match Preview

It’s another big game this weekend as we travel to pre-season promotion favourites Salisbury in the Evo-Stik League South West.

Salisbury vs Bideford
Evo-Stik League South West
Saturday 2nd December 2017
3:00pm kick off
Raymond McEnhill Stadium, Salisbury

A Brief History of Salisbury FC
Salisbury reformed in 2015/16 after Salisbury City were expelled from the National League in 2015 for unpaid debts. Salisbury were originally founded in 1947 and played in the Western League winning the Division Two title and then the Western League title on two occasions. In 1968/69 they joined the Southern League. After changing their name to Salisbury City (not to be confused with the Salisbury City that existed from 1905-1939) they became Southern League Southern Division Champions in 1994/95. In 2005/06 they were Southern League Champions and a season later were promoted to the Conference after finishing runners-up in the Conference South. After a brief spell back in the Southern League they found their way back to the Conference (later renamed the National League) but they folded after being expelled from the league in 2014 due to unpaid debts. They reformed as Salisbury in 2015/16 and won the Wessex League Premier Division and promotion to the Southern League Division One South & West. Salisbury also reached the semi final of the FA Vase in 2015/16 losing out to Hereford 3-1 on aggregate. Last season Salisbury finished in 2nd place and missed out on promotion after losing to Tiverton Town in the play off final.

Salisbury FC
Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Partridge Way
Old Sarum
Salisbury
Wiltshire
SP4 6PU
Tel: 01722 776655
Website: http://www.salisburyfc.co.uk
Twitter: @SalisburyFC

Form Guide
Surprisingly Salisbury are without a win in their last five home league games but The Whites have picked up six away wins to help make up for it. Salisbury come into Saturday’s game off the back of two draws in the league against Cinderford Town and Bristol Manor Farm and a mid-week defeat in the League Cup to Larkhall Athletic. Salisbury are 5th in the league (W8 D5 L3), three points behind Bideford.

Salisbury’s last six (WLWDDL)
29/11/17 Larkhall Athletic 4 Salisbury 3 (League Cup R2)
25/11/17 Salisbury 1 Bristol Manor Farm 1 (League)
18/11/17 Cinderford Town 1 Salisbury 1 (League)
14/11/17 Salisbury 3 Swindon Supermarine 1 (Wiltshire Cup R2)
11/11/17 Salisbury 1 Larkhall Athletic 2 (League)
04/11/17 Barnstaple Town 0 Salisbury 2 (League)

After three games without a win, Bideford have now won three games on the trot against Paulton Rovers, Larkhall Athletic and Winchester City. The excellent away win a Winchester took The Robins to 2nd place, at least until Bristol Manor Farm’s mid-week draw with leaders Taunton Town. Stephen Reed has returned from injury but Dan Harrison is a doubt after suffering a muscle strain at Winchester. If selected, Sean Downing will make his 300th appearance for Bideford on Saturday. Bideford are 3rd in the division (W10 D2 L4).

Bideford's last six (DLDWWW)
25/11/17 Winchester City 2 Bideford 3 (League)
18/11/17 Bideford 4 Larkhall Athletic 1 (League)
14/11/17 Paulton Rovers 1 Bideford 3 (League)
11/11/17 Bideford 2 Cinderford Town 2 (League)
04/11/17 North Leigh 4 Bideford 3 (League)
31/10/17 Mangotsfield United 1 Bideford 1 (League)

Previous meetings
22/04/17 Bideford 0 Salisbury 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
10/09/17 Salisbury 4 Bideford 4 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
2002/03 Salisbury City 1 Bideford 2 (FA Cup PR)
1985/86 Salisbury 2 Bideford 0 (FA Trophy Q2)
1976/77 Bideford 2 Salisbury 1 (FA Trophy Q1)

Last season Bideford and Salisbury played out a thrilling 4-4 draw at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. Bideford led 3-1, and then trailed 4-3 before Ian Sampson’s last gasp equaliser in injury time. On the final day of the season at the Sports Ground, Salisbury secured a 2nd place league finish with a 1-0 victory.