Match Preview

It’s back to home comforts this Saturday as we take on Cirencester Town at the Sports Ground.

Bideford vs Cirencester Town
Evo-Stik Southern League West
Saturday 14th October 2017
3:00pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

A Brief History of Cirencester Town FC
Formed in 1889 Cirencester Town spent most of the first half of their existence playing in the Cheltenham League winning the Division One title on five occasions. They also competed in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League twice winning the league title. In 1968 the club became founding members of the Gloucestershire County League but moved up to the Hellenic League Premier Division just a year later. After being relegated from the Premier Division in 1972 Cirencester bounced back by winning the Division One title in 1973/74 but were relegated again from the Premier in 1978. The Centurions then spent thirteen years in Division One before finishing as runners-up in 1990/91 to return to the Premier Division. The club finished 2nd in their first season back in the Premier and in 1995/96 were crowned Hellenic League champions meaning promotion to the Southern League. After eight seasons in the second tier Cirencester were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division after a 3rd place finish in 2003/04. They were relegated in 2009 but returned to the Premier Division after winning the play-offs in 2009/10 beating Bridgwater Town in the final. Cirencester were relegated again in 2012 but bounced back once more by winning the Division One South & West title in 2013/14. In 2016/17 The Centurions were relegated from the Premier Division for a third time and now compete in Division One West.

Cirencester Town FC
Website: http://www.cirentownfc.com
Twitter: @CirenTownFC

Form Guide
Much like us, Cirencester have had an indifferent season so far sitting 15th in Southern League Division One West (W3 D0 L6). Despite this, Cirencester have shown their capabilities in their last two away games with a couple of excellent wins. Firstly a 3-0 success at Paulton Rovers followed by an even more impressive 3-2 win at Evesham United in the FA Trophy.

Cirencester Town’s last six (LWLLLW)
08/10/17 Evesham United 2 Cirencester Town 3 (FA Trophy PR)
03/10/17 Cirencester Town 1 Larkhall Athletic 2 (League Cup R1)
30/09/17 Cirencester Town 1 Larkhall Athletic 2 (League)
26/09/17 Cirencester 0 Evesham United 1 (League)
23/09/17 Paulton Rovers 0 Cirencester Town 3 (League)
19/09/17 Salisbury 8 Cirencester Town 2 (League)

Bideford have suffered a bad week going out of three cup competitions to Haringey Borough (FA Cup), Taunton Town (League Cup) and Moneyfields (FA Trophy). The Robins’ recent form has not been helped by a spate of injuries. Craig Duff, Max Smallcombe and Stephen Reed all remain sidelined while there are doubts over the fitness of Sean Downing and Billy Tucker ahead of Saturday’s game. Bideford have however been boosted by the arrival of Exeter City loanee Ben Seymour who has netted twice in his first two games. Nick Barker has signed for Buckland Athletic but will be available one more time this weekend.

Bideford's last six (DLWLDL)
07/10/17 Moneyfields 4 Bideford 2 (FA Trophy PR)
03/10/17 Bideford 2 Taunton Town 2 (League Cup R1) *Taunton won on pens
30/09/17 Haringey Borough 4 Bideford 1 (FA Cup Q3)
26/09/17 Bideford 1 Bodmin Town 0 (FA Cup Q2r)
23/09/17 Bideford 1 Wimborne Town 2 (League)
20/09/17 Bodmin Town 1 Bideford 1 (FA Cup Q2)

Recent clashes
02/04/16 Cirencester Town 3 Bideford 4 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
27/10/15 Bideford 1 Cirencester Town 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
28/10/14 Bideford 0 Cirencester Town 2 (Southern Premier)
12/08/14 Cirencester Town 6 Bideford 2 (Southern Premier)

Travelling Robins’ fans have fond memories of our last encounter with Cirencester as we came from three goals down at half time to win 4-3 at the Corinium Stadium in 2016. Second half goals from Dan Western (2), Billy Tucker and Ian Sampson gave Bideford a remarkable comeback win that afternoon, although it only delayed our inevitable relegation by a couple of weeks.