A Brief History of Shortwood United FC
Founded in 1900 Shortwood United played local league football until joining the Gloucestershire County League for the 1975/76 season. They became champions in 1981/82 and won promotion to the Hellenic Premier Division but were relegated to Hellenic Division One after one season. However The Woods bounced straight back finishing runners-up and in their first season back in the Premier Division were crowned champions. Over the next ten years Shortwood continued to be one of the league's top contenders, winning the title again in 1991/92, before spending the next decade or so in mid-table. After finishing runners-up in 2011/12 for the third time in four seasons, Shortwood made the step up to Southern League Division One South & West and have fared reasonably well with finishes of 8th, 6th, 11th and 7th. 2012/13 could be considered Shortwood's best ever season as they achieved their highest league finish of 6th in Southern League Division One and also reached the first round proper of the FA Cup where they faced Port Vale. The game was broadcast live on BT Sport and drew a record crowd of 1,247 to the Meadowbank Ground. In 2016/17 Shortwood finished 9th in Division One S&W.

Shortwood United
Web: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/shortwoodunited
Twitter: @ShortwoodUtdFC

Form Guide
Shortwood have had a difficult season so far, although they have just come into a bit of form with two wins and a draw in their last three league games. Most recently they achieved an excellent 3-1 win over promotion chasers Swindon Supermarine. Shortwood have also had a decent run in the FA Trophy reaching the Third Qualifying Round. United are 18th in the league (W5 D3 L8) but have a couple of games in hand on the teams above them.

Shortwood United’s last six (LLDWLW)
05/12/17 Shortwood United 3 Swindon Supermarine 1 (League)
04/12/17 Gloucester City 4 Shortwood United 0 (Gloucester Cup QF)
02/12/17 Shortwood United 1 Mangotsfield United 0 (League)
28/12/17 Shortwood United 3 Barnstaple Town 3 (League)
25/11/17 East Thurrock United 3 Shortwood United 1 (FA Trophy Q3)
18/11/17 Shortwood United 1 AFC Totton 3 (League)

Bideford are on a run of four straight wins and are unbeaten in five in all competitions. Wins over Paulton Rovers, Larkhall Athletic and Winchester City took The Robins to second in the table but after Saturday’s abandoned game at Salisbury, Bideford are now in fifth place (W10 D2 L4). On the injury front, Dan Harrison is out with a muscle strain, Ben Wood will be out for several weeks with tendonitis, Liam Gregory is a long term absentee with a broken leg, while Max Smallcombe is nearing fitness but his future remains unknown.

Bideford's last six (LDWWWW)
05/12/17 Bideford 5 Stoke Gabriel 0 (St Luke’s Bowl R1)
25/11/17 Winchester City 2 Bideford 3 (League)
18/11/17 Bideford 4 Larkhall Athletic 1 (League)
14/11/17 Paulton Rovers 1 Bideford 3 (League)
11/11/17 Bideford 2 Cinderford Town 2 (League)
04/11/17 North Leigh 4 Bideford 3 (League)

Most recent meetings:
18/02/17 Shortwood United 1 Bideford 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
01/10/16 Bideford 1 Shortwood United 3 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
1988/89 Shortwood United 2 Bideford 1 (FA Cup PRr)
1988/89 Bideford 1 Shortwood United 1 (FA Cup PR)

Last season the sides traded victories with Shortwood drawing first blood with a 3-1 win at the Sports Ground in October. Bideford then returned the favour in February, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Meadowbank with goals from Chris McGrath and Billy Tucker.