BIDEFORD 0 KIDLINGTON 4

Bideford’s play-off hopes suffered a setback on Saturday with a heavy defeat at home to Kidlington.

The Oxfordshire side’s new signing Conor McDonagh was the star of the show with a hat trick and a man of the match performance to help Kidlington to a 4-0 victory at the Sports Ground. Bideford were well below par making several mistakes to help Kidlington on their way and also missed big chances at key points in the game to further their own misery.

McDonagh should’ve put Kidlington ahead in the 12th minute but skewed his shot well off target after being played in by a smart reverse pass. Bideford took their turn to miss a golden opportunity as Sean Downing cut inside from the left and squared for Ben Seymour but The Robins’ top scorer shot over from just inside the box.

Steve Oliver pushed a deflected McDonagh strike past the post while his opposite number Sam Worrell did well to parry a shot from Ben Carter which was also deflected on its way. Downing then volleyed the rebound into the side netting. Just as it looked like the teams would head in all square at the break, the away side got their noses in front. McDonagh latched on to a hopeful ball forward, looking suspiciously offside, rounded the out rushing Oliver and finished well from a tight angle.

The second half was only a minute old as McDonagh was sent clear once again. This time Oliver was able to force him wide and the striker’s ball across the face of goal was cleared. The visitors did however double their lead on 55 minutes as Mark Janes picked up the ball on the left side of the box and curled home beautifully into the top right hand corner.

Bideford then wasted two huge chances to get back into the game. First Seymour worked his way into the box from the left and squared for Matt Bye whose effort was deflected over by a superb last ditch block. Then Bye sent a free kick into the box which landed at the feet of an unmarked Kevin Squire at the far post but the big striker lashed his shot wide.

It was game over on 77 minutes as a Kidlington counter attack ended with McDonagh being allowed far too much time and space to waltz into the box and smash home in off the post past Oliver. In the later stages Downing sent a free header from a Bye free kick wide before McDonagh completed his hat trick in injury time stealing in to poke past an exposed Oliver to seal a big win for The Greens and a downright miserable day for The Robins.

Bideford: Oliver, Sampson, Harrison, Beattie, Reed, Bye, Carter (Mehew 74), Key, Downing, Turner (Squire 49), Seymour (Western 83). Subs: Squire, Western, Mehew, Hancox.

Goals: McDonagh 45+1, 77, 90+1, Janes 55

Attendance: 184