Bristol Manor Farm and Bideford shared the spoils in a game of fine margins in North Devon.
The Farm started well, buoyed by their four goals on New Year’s Day, and had the game’s first half-chance. Mason Winter sent a cross to the edge of the area, and Louis Britton volleyed narrowly over. Bideford grew into the game and had their own volleyed chance shortly afterwards. Josh Webber was found at the back post, but he couldn’t hit the target. Evander Grubb, who was a chief tormentor all afternoon, was next to have a go. He drove directly at the home defence, but his curling effort went wide. Mason Winter’s deliveries caused significant problems in the Bideford defence, and his latest one saw Farm come closer than ever to breaking the deadlock. Dan Dodimead bundled in from the cross, but Lewis Slough scrambled the ball off his goal line.
Winter was at it again in the second half. His cross was headed down by Britton, and Dodimead’s sliding effort was well saved by home keeper Michael Searle. Scott Robinson was the man in form for Bideford, and he had two huge chances to steal the points late on. Firstly, an error at the back led to a three-on-one, but Seth Locke did brilliantly to save from close range. When the striker did beat the keeper with a fierce drive a few minutes later, he also cleared the crossbar. Farm had the final chance to snatch the win, and it came from Josh Bissett. Over the years, it seems whoever wears the number one for Bideford always shines against Farm. Bissett’s dipping effort looked destined for the top corner before Searle flew across to tip the ball over and earn a point for his side.