Our first game of 2018 sees Bishop’s Cleeve visit the Sports Ground on Saturday in the Evo-Stik League South – West.
Bideford vs Bishops Cleeve
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Saturday 6th January 2018
3:00pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford
A Brief History of Bishop’s Cleeve FC
Formed in 1905, Bishop's Cleeve played in the Cheltenham League where they were champions on six occasions before joining the Gloucester Northern Senior League in 1967. There the Mitres were league champions three times, in 1968/69, 1969/70 and 1972/73. Their next move was to the Hellenic League where they were Division One Champions in 1986/87. After finishing 2nd in the Hellenic Premier Division in 2005/06 Bishop's Cleeve joined Southern League Division One Midlands before switching to Division One South & West in 2008. Cleeve achieved their highest league finish of 11th in 2009/10 and again in 2011/12. After three years of bottom three finishes they achieved a more respectable 12th position in 2015/16 and in 2016/17 they finished 16th.
Bishop's Cleeve FC
Website: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bishopscleevefc
Twitter: @BishopsCleeveFC
Form Guide
Bishop’s Cleeve are bottom of the West Division with only one league win all season (W1 D2 L18). That win came back on 24/10 with a 4-0 victory over Shortwood United. The only other points they have picked up so far were in a 1-1 draw with Slimbridge and a tremendous effort to hold Salisbury to a goalless draw at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium. Bishop’s Cleeve picked up a really good 5-2 win at Yate Town in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup but have lost their last eight league games coming into this fixture. Bishop’s Cleeve have not played since 23/12 due to postponements.
Bishop’s Cleeve’s last six (LLLWLL)
23/12/17 Bishop’s Cleeve 1 Wimborne Town 7 (League)
16/12/17 AFC Totton 6 Bishop’s Cleeve 0 (League)
12/12/17 Yate Town 2 Bishop’s Cleeve 5 (Glos Cup R1)
02/12/17 Kidlington 2 Bishop’s Cleeve 0 (League)
28/11/17 Swindon Supermarine 4 Bishop’s Cleeve 2 (League)
25/11/17 Bishop’s Cleeve 0 Yate Town 2 (League)
Bideford are on a run of four games without a win after a disappointing 1-1 at home to Barnstaple in the North Devon Derby. In atrocious conditions Bideford conceded a last minute equaliser to make it just three points from their last four games. The Robins’ last two fixtures have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches at Kidlington and Taunton. Bideford will be hoping to improve their home form in 2018 to help them back into play-off contention. The Robins are 10th in the league (W10 D5 L5).
Bideford's last six (WWDLDD)
26/12/17 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)
23/12/17 Didcot Town 0 Bideford 0 (League)
16/12/17 Bideford 1 Yate Town 2 (League)
09/12/17 Bideford 2 Shortwood United 2 (League)
05/12/17 Bideford 5 Stoke Gabriel 0 (St Luke’s Bowl R1)
25/11/17 Winchester City 2 Bideford 3 (League)
Previous meetings:
17/10/17 Bishop’s Cleeve 1 Bideford 2 (SL Div 1 West)
02/09/17 Bideford 5 Bishop’s Cleeve 1 (FA Cup Q1)
07/01/17 Bishop’s Cleeve 3 Bideford 3 (SL Div 1 S&W)
17/09/16 Bideford 2 Bishop's Cleeve 1 (SL Div 1 S&W)
21/01/12 Bishop's Cleeve 0 Bideford 1 (SL Div 1 S&W)
13/08/11 Bideford 2 Bishop's Cleeve 1 (SL Div 1 S&W)
16/04/11 Bishop's Cleeve 1 Bideford 2 (SL Div 1 S&W)
23/10/10 Bideford 2 Bishop's Cleeve 0 (SL Div 1 S&W)
27/08/05 Bishop's Cleeve 3 Bideford 1 (FA Cup PR)
The sides have already met twice this season with Bideford coming out on top on both occasions. Bideford won the first encounter 5-1 in the FA Cup in September with goals coming from Craig Duff, Sean Downing, Max Smallcombe (2) and Billy Tucker. The Robins then won 2-1 at Kayte Lane in the league despite being reduced to nine men with two sendings off. Ryan Turner and Billy Tucker got the all important goals in that one.