BIDEFORD 3 PAULTON ROVERS 0

Rovers failed to build on their first away win of the season and the Boxing Day defeat of Chippenham Town as they were well beaten in the torrential rain and strong wind in North Devon. With skipper, Scott Brice injured (foot infection) and both Mitchell Page and Mike Bryant unavailable, Ben Lacey, Clayton Green and Jordy Nkunga came into the side.

They began well enough with Scott Wilson firing a right foot shot just wide of the far post in the 2nd minute and Bideford defender, Chris McGrath doing well to cut out a dangerous cross from Jon Davies just a minute later. The visitors felt they were denied a 9th minute penalty when Davies appeared to be brought down in the box but the referee strangely awarded Bideford a free kick, presumably for simulation, yet left the card in his pocket! However the hosts settled and skipper Richard Groves tested keeper Kyle Phillips with a free kick from the edge of the box and Sean Downing was unfortunate to see his shot go straight at the Rovers’ keeper after a superb turn and first time shot.

The breakthrough came on 20 minutes as Shayne Anson lost his footing on the slippery pitch thus failing to make what seemed an easy clearance and Ben Wood played a pass into the box where Ben Watson laid the ball back for Groves to fire home right footed across Phillips from just inside the area.

Worse was to follow 3 minutes later when a free kick from just inside their own half saw Bideford double their advantage. Downing out jumped everyone and saw his looping header drift over the retreating Phillips and into the net.

Phillips had to be alert, making a fine save low to his right, to deny Mickey Parcell, 2 minutes into the second half and then a minute later his opposite number, Grant Fisher, was finally called into action making a good save from a Brandon Barnes after good work from Wilson. Davies then did well down the left and was unlucky to see his shot deflect over the bar. The pace of the Bideford strikers caused the Rovers’ defence problems all afternoon and after another quick break Sam Teale did well at the bar post to intercept a dangerous cross from the left by Stephen Reed.

Any hopes Rovers may have harboured of a comeback similar to that achieved at Dorchester Town disappeared on 65 minutes when acting skipper, Ashley Williams, under hit his pass back to Phillips in deteriorating conditions and substitute, Kevin Squire, won the sliding race to the ball, got to his feet and slotted the ball into an open net.

Rovers had an escape on 74 minutes when another great break by the home side down the right ended with Downing sending his shot into the stanchion on the near post. Just a minute later Rovers came closest to getting on the score sheet, which came courtesy of a header back to Fisher from Reed that went past the stranded keeper but Reed recovered to just win the race with Davies and concede a corner.

Rovers misery was complete 3 minutes into injury time when a long ball down the centre sent Downing clear and Anson on the slide brought him down to earn a straight red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity but they were not punished as Groves sent his free kick over the bar.

Man of the Match: Richard Groves (Bideford)

Attendance: 295