Match Preview

It’s another must win game in the play-off chase on Tuesday night as we entertain North Leigh in the Southern League West Division.

Bideford vs North Leigh
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Tuesday 10th April 2018
7:45pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

A Brief History of North Leigh FC
North Leigh FC were formed in 1908 and played at a local level for over 80 years winning the Witney & District League title seven times. They also competed in the Oxfordshire Senior League. It wasn't until the 1990/91 season when North Leigh stepped up to play in Hellenic League Division One. After two fourth place finishes they were runners-up in 1992/93 and were promoted to the Hellenic League Premier Division. An initial 14th place finish was followed by 14 consecutive top eight finishes. North Leigh were Hellenic League champions in 2001/02, 2002/03 and again in 2007/08 when they accepted promotion to the Southern League. In the nine seasons North Leigh have played in Southern League Division One South & West they have never finished outside of the top ten, finishing 6th in 2016/17.

North Leigh FC
Eynsham Park
North Leigh
Witney
Oxfordshire
OX29 6SL
Tel: 01993 880157
Web: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/northleighfc
Twitter: @NorthLeigh_FC

Form Guide
2017/18 has been a struggle for North Leigh mainly due to their away form (W3 D4 L11) which is the second worst in the division. Their three wins on the road so far this season have come at Slimbridge, Paulton Rovers and most recently at Mangotsfield. That win at Mangotsfield is their only victory so far in 2018, however North Leigh have now gone three without defeat after Saturday’s draw at Bishops Cleeve. North Leigh are 19th in the West Division (W8 D7 L18).

North Leigh’s last six (LDLDWD)
07/04/18 Bishops Cleeve 1 North Leigh 1 (League)
27/03/18 Mangotsfield United 1 North Leigh 3 (League)
17/03/18 Yate Town 3 North Leigh 3 (League)
06/03/18 North Leigh 0 AFC Totton 1 (League)
24/02/18 North Leigh 1 Taunton Town 1 (League)
17/02/18 Wimborne Town 5 North Leigh 0 (League)

Bideford’s vital win at Larkhall on Saturday put an end to their worst run of the season. It was The Robins’ first win in six games and now the pressure is on to keep winning games in order to challenge for a play-off place. Bideford are 9th in the West Division (W16 D9 L10), six points off the play-offs with two games in hand.

Bideford's last six (DDLLLW)
07/04/18 Larkhall Athletic 0 Bideford 1 (League)
02/04/18 Bideford 0 Taunton Town 1 (League)
31/03/18 Evesham United 3 Bideford 0 (League)
27/03/18 Bristol Manor Farm 1 Bideford 0 (League)
24/03/18 Bideford 2 Salisbury 2 (League)
20/03/18 Bideford 3 Mangotsfield United 3 (League)

Previous meetings
04/11/17 North Leigh 4 Bideford 3 (Southern Div 1 West)
25/03/17 Bideford 0 North Leigh 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
03/12/16 North Leigh 2 Bideford 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
10/03/12 North Leigh 1 Bideford 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
12/11/11 Bideford 3 North Leigh 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)

Bideford do not have a good recent record against North Leigh having lost the last three encounters with the Oxfordshire side. Earlier this season Bideford led 2-1 at half time at Eynsham Park but went down 4-3 after conceding three goals in a crazy eight minute spell. Last season North Leigh did the double over The Robins with a 2-1 win at home and a 2-0 win at the Sports Ground.