The fixture makers won’t be too high on Farm’s Christmas list as they were sent on a 200+ mile trip on the first Tuesday night of the season. Farm did start brightly though, Ben Bament lashing an effort into the side netting just a few minutes in. Bideford’s best chance of a combative first half came through Ryan Turner as his header from a corner cannoned of the post and away to safety. Owen Brain had scored three in two for Farm and he was looking as lively as ever. Firstly, forcing a good save from home keeper Max Evans and then finding Grubb was denied an effort after a good block from defender Tyler Yendle.

The second half was just as end-to-end and both sides pushed hard for their first wins of the season. Jesse Howe was the first to try his luck after the break, curling an effort just wide. Farm had a pretty poor record at the Sports Ground having lost 1-0 here in back-to-back seasons and must have feared the worst when Bideford took the lead after an hour. Byrne sent in a deep corner and Turner climbed above everybody to head past Seth Locke. The goal certainly woke the visitors up who began to dominate the game and probe for an equaliser. Brain lashed an effort just wide before being denied by Evans a few minutes later. Jayden Nielsen won players and fans player of the year last season and he got off the mark in this one to restore parity. Neat football by Farm allowed him to get a half a yard and he drilled a superb low effort into the far corner. Bideford would have one final chance to grab all three points at the death, but Locke’s fantastic fingertip save denied Yendle and gave each team a point they both deserved on the balance of play.