The decision looked to have paid off in the early minutes as they started on the front foot and opened the scoring after just five minutes. A Sam Veal corner was met brilliantly by the leap of Jodie Shipton as she headed in from six yards. That was the midfielder’s 13th goal of the season.

Town continued to press for further goals and Adele Brown fired the ball over the cross-bar shortly after the re-start. Then on 10 minutes, Town were pegged back to 1-1 after some poor defending on the edge of their own box. Bethany Ellis rode a challenge before driving into the area and firing low past Sara Rowe who managed to get a hand on the ball, but couldn’t divert it wide.

Callington were next to come close when winger Chloe Williams saw her shot fly narrowly by the post. Then Lucy Bounsall had a strike from the edge of the box which was also just off-target. The chances continued to come with Amy Hemingway delivering two excellent crosses along the face of the goal, but with no Town striker able to make a connection. Bounsall then had a volley saved by the Bideford keeper to keep the scores level.

On the half hour Callington were dealt another sucker punch, as Ellis ran clear out wide, before curling an outstanding shot into the top corner. Bideford had defended well and broke twice in clinical fashion to put themselves in a commanding position come half-time.

After the break, Town changed formation to 3-5-2 and introduced two imposing strikers in the form of Dani Harper and Chynna Evans. The pair looked lively and created space for town’s other creative players. Amy Hemingway and Stacey Derrick began to come into the game, with the returning Gemma Farley also beginning to find space in the final third. On the hour, new signing Evans received the ball from Hemingway before firing low into the bottom corner.

Town’s equaliser raised spirits even further and they pressed hard for a winner. Bideford were defending brilliantly, throwing bodies on the line wherever needed. They also still looked a threat on the counter attack, forcing a series of corners late on. One of which was thwarted by Rowe as she tipped an effort onto Callington’s cross-bar and away to safety.

The game was becoming increasingly open as the final minutes loomed, and it was Callington who were throwing bodies forward in search of the winning goal. Farley saw a shot fly over the bar and she also went close with a free-kick late on. Then on the 94th minute a shot from Adele Brown deflected and spun towards goal, before Evans reacted quickest in the box to divert the ball in with the last kick of the game.

Town manager Adam McPherson said: “That was an intense game where our players gave absolutely everything they had in the second half. Huge respect to Bideford who came with a game-plan and they executed it brilliantly. They deserved at least a point for their efforts, but when you have a team that is on a run like we are, the resilience and self-belief to keep going is there for all to see.”

Town’s player of the match was shared between Stacey Derrick and Amy Hemingway who drove Town on in the second half. A mention also for Bideford’s Bethany Ellis who was a handful all game and scored the goal of the match.