Bideford suffered a third straight league defeat going down 2-0 at Winchester City on Tuesday night.

The Robins performed well on the night but were let down by the lack of a finishing touch in the final third on a rainy night in Hampshire.

Sean Joyce was without five recognised defenders on the night and was forced to shift centre forward Scott Robinson into the role of centre back, a task he performed admirably. Mattie Buchan and Jordan Ewing led the front line and there was also a first start for Krystian Woods, on loan from Weston-Super-Mare.

Leo McCormick was called into action early on, then Bideford went close multiple times to taking the lead. Javan Wright and Mattie Buchan both had shots off target before Woods and Louie Slough went much closer from a corner after Javan saw a strike deflected just over.

McCormick made two more good saves to deny Jaheim Dotse and then parried away a Bradley Waters strike.

It was the Robins who went closest in the 44th minute as Woods’ header from a corner was tipped onto the crossbar by Tommy Scott and then scrambled away by the Winchester defence.

McCormick made another great save in the with his legs 48th minute as Waters was sent through on goal, but he was unable to stop Dotse six minutes later as he ran clear and lifted the ball beyond the outrushing Bideford goalkeeper.

Bideford responded well to going behind and found some joy down the left through Woods and Finn Roberts before Woods had the misfortune of seeing another header rebound off the crossbar in the 65th minute.

Robinson then reverted back to his more familiar position and was twice denied by good saves from Scott.

The game was then made safe with three minutes to go as Jamie Barron was found in the box by a lovely pass and he squeezed a shot under McCormick to make it 2-0.

Bideford: McCormick, Winsor, Robinson, Slough, Roberts, J Wright (Hearsey 62), Moyse, Reay, Woods (C Wright 82), Buchan (Field 78), Ewing (Turner 62).

Goals: Dotse 54, Barron 87

Attendance: 154