BIDEFORD 2 NORTH LEIGH 0

BIDEFORD CONTINUE PUSH FOR PLAYOFFS

Bideford kept up the pressure on their fellow playoff chasers last night with a 2-0 win over North Leigh at the Sports Ground. Ryan Turner and Kevin Squire were on target as The Robins moved up to 7th place, now just two points outside of the playoff positions.

Playing in their unfamiliar white and blue strip, Bideford were largely in control of the contest and went close early on as Sean Downing turned a Josh Key cross goalwards only to be denied by a good save from Ross Grimshaw. Bideford took the lead on 19mins as Key got in on the right but his effort was well block on the line, as was Downing’s follow up but Turner was not to be denied as he smashed home from close range.

Matt Bye saw a shot repelled by a good Grimshaw save before lofting a dangerous free kick into the box which the North Leigh goalkeeper punched away. Key then headed the ball back over Grimshaw’s head but a defender was well placed to head off the goal line. Steve Oliver’s only real action of the half was tipping a cross from Jordan Lymn over the bar.

In the second half Grimshaw parried away a curling Ben Seymour effort and held on well to a Dan Western volley from 20 yards out. Seymour then beat Grimshaw in an aerial challenge on the edge of the box but Ben Wood could only shoot over the unguarded net from 25 yards, under pressure it must be said. There was a moment of worry at the other end when a North Leigh forward lifted the ball beyond the advancing Oliver but his effort was well wide, other than that the visitors were generally subdued.

That being said it was a bit of a relief to see the second goal go in as Grimshaw made an error by misjudging the bounce of the ball on the edge of the box allowing Squire to roll the ball home for one of the easiest goals he’ll have ever scored. Grimshaw did save a Craig Allan strike in the final two minutes but by that point The Robins were already home and hosed.

Bideford: Oliver, Sampson, Allan, Mayne, Wood (Hancox 83), Key, Bye, Western (Reed 86), Downing, Turner (Squire 60), Seymour. Subs: Squire, Hancox, Reed, Harrison.

Goals: Turner 19, Squire 81

Attendance: 149