Match Preview

Finally it’s a home league game on Saturday as we welcome Kidlington to the Sports Ground in the Southern League West Division.

Bideford vs Kidlington
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Saturday 24th February 2018
3:00pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford

A Brief History of Kidlington FC
Formed back in 1909 Kidlington played local level football before joining the Oxfordshire Senior League in 1951. After winning the league title in 1952/53 The Greens elected to join the Hellenic League in 1954 which became the Premier Division in 1956. They were relegated to Division One at the end of the 1961/62 season but were promoted back as runners-up in 1963/64. Kidlington returned to Division One in 1966 and would remain there (with the exception of a three year return to the Premier from 1979-1982) until 2005. They played in the Premier Division for the next eleven seasons becoming champions in 2015/16. The Greens were promoted to Southern League Division One Central where they finished in 12th position before transferring across to the West Division for the 2017/18 season.

Kidlington FC
Website: http://www.kidlingtonfc.co.uk
Twitter: @Kidlington_FC

Form Guide
Kidlington are having a decent first season in the West Division having moved across from the East Division (formerly Division One Central) in the summer. Although Kidlington are 13th (W10 D10 L7), like Bideford they have games in hand on most of the teams above them and are the last of a large group of sides who have hopes of challenging for a play-off spot. Their recent form has been a bit mixed with big wins over Totton, Cinderford and Barnstaple countered by defeats to Bristol Manor Farm and Larkhall Athletic last Saturday.

Kidlington’s last six (LDWDWL)
17/02/18 Kidlington 1 Larkhall Athletic 2 (League)
03/02/18 Kidlington 4 Cinderford Town 1 (League)
31/01/18 Kidlington 1 Winchester City 1 (League)
27/01/18 AFC Totton 1 Kidlington 3 (League)
17/01/18 Kidlington 1 Thame United 1 (Oxfordshire Cup QF) *Kidlington won 3-1 on pens
13/01/18 Bristol Manor Farm 1 Kidlington 0 (League)

After going seven games unbeaten, Bideford went down 2-1 at in-form Cirencester Town last week but bounced back midweek with an excellent 1-1 draw at runaway league leaders Taunton Town. Bideford were without manager Sean Joyce, physio Tony Beal, James Mayne and Ben Carter due to illness as well as Craig Allan who was unavailable. Olly Mehew made his first start for the club after completing his loan move from Forest Green Rovers. Bideford will be hoping to make the most of back to back home games against Kidlington and North Leigh to bring themselves back into the play-off picture. The Robins are 9th (W13 D7 L6).

Bideford's last six (WWDDLD)
20/02/18 Taunton Town 1 Bideford 1 (League)
17/02/18 Cirencester Town 2 Bideford 1 (League)
06/02/18 Bideford 1 Tiverton Town 1 (St Luke’s QF) *Bideford won 5-4 on pens
03/02/18 Wimborne Town 2 Bideford 2 (League)
30/01/18 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 3 (League)
13/01/18 Swindon Supermarine 0 Bideford 5 (League)

Previous meetings:
No previous meetings