BIDEFORD 1 MELKSHAM TOWN 1

TUCKER CRACKER EARNS ROBINS POINT

A superb strike from Billy Tucker earned Bideford a hard earned point against Melksham Town on Saturday at the Sports Ground.

The Robins were trailing 1-0 with ten minutes remaining when Tucker struck. Moments after being dispossessed on the edge of the box the ball ended up back with Tucker who teed himself up to volley into the top right hand corner with Darren Behcet a spectator. It was a glorious goal and one that Tucker’s performance on the day truly deserved.

In a really entertaining game that could have gone either way Bideford made the early running with Tucker getting in on the left and drilling an effort across goal just beyond the far post and then volleying wide after a good ball in by Toby Down. Tucker then sent a free kick into the box which Kevin Squire attempted to glance on its way but the ball bounced agonisingly just over the crossbar.

Melksham then had their first big chance as Rob Hobbs was played in after a good passing move but pulled his shot wide of the left hand post. Andy Sandell then struck a low shot that was repelled by Steve Oliver and Luke Ballinger perhaps should’ve done better sending an effort over when unmarked from a corner. Behcet then saved well at his near post from a Tucker strike after being found by Ben Wood to end the half.

The visitors took the lead five minutes into the second half as Sandell charged down an Oliver clearance on the edge of the box and Jon Davies steered home a low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Bideford were then forced to up their game as Craig Allan saw a header blocked in front of goal and Wood’s low strike was saved by Behcet. A huge opportunity for The Robins then went begging as Sam Haynes could only blaze over from close range after Sean Downing managed to help the ball onto him but the equaliser did finally come nine minutes later.

Both sides then came close to a winner in injury time with Tucker squaring for Downing who could only fire over the bar and at the other end Oliver got down well to save Ballinger’s low strike in the fifth minute of added time.

Bideford: Oliver, Allan, Sampson, Down, Haynes, Wood, Bye, Heeney, Tucker, Turner (Downing 54), Squire (Ward 61). Subs not used: Mayne, Gregory, Hancox.

Goals
Bideford: Tucker 80
Melksham Town: Davies 50

Attendance: 218