BIDEFORD | FINE FINN-ISH

Robins back into winning ways

After four games without a win, Bideford made a dramatic return to winning ways at the weekend as Finn Roberts’ stoppage time goal gave their ten-men victory at in-form fellow play-off hopefuls, Bishops Cleeve.

The Robins had Jamie Down sent off just past the half-hour mark but battled out a big win, which leaves them just two points off the play-off places and with games in hand on some of the clubs around them.

“I think we can all see how important that win on Saturday was,” match-winner Roberts told us. “Not just for us, but for the fans as well.

“Anyone that knows Bideford knows the noise that comes with it, so as much as it was good for us, it’s good to get the club back to winning ways and see the supporters smiling again.

“It’s impossible to even tell where you stand in these play-offs, it changes so often. One minute you’re up there, then you lose a couple of games and you’re back in amongst it, so it’s impossible to tell, but our aim, as it has been from the start, is keep our heads down, do what we do well and just keep plugging away in this long season!

“To score an important late winner for the club, who have done so much for me this season, and to get us back to winning ways was a fantastic feeling, but it can’t take away from the fact that we had ten men on that pitch, all of whom gave it their all for the hour that we had a man less.

“The feeling at the end was fantastic; the celebrations on the pitch and in the changing room shows how close-knit this group is. Sometimes you look back at key moments in a season which become turning points and this could well be one of them, we shall see!

“This is my first season in the League, and it’s safe to say I’m impressed! It’s very well run, and the opposition are proving an excellent challenge; you play against the top teams, who will work you for the full 90 minutes and then you face the clubs lower down the table and they do exactly the same.

“From playing local football, I have thoroughly enjoyed this step up in standard and I feel that I am moving in the right direction.

“Going into the campaign, I don’t think many people would have expected Bideford to be in amongst the leading pack, but we’ve embraced the challenge with open arms and went on a superb run.

“Seeing so many games postponed meant that we hit something of a brick wall and lost our momentum, but we are trying our hardest to build our momentum up again to take into this final run of games.

“From a personal point of view, I’ve had to play in multiple positions, all of which I have enjoyed. This is the highest level I have played at, but I feel that I’ve given a good account of myself to help the team progress from last season when it was at the other end of the table.

“I am learning and improving all of the time and long may it continue!”

During his formative years, rugby was the main sport for Roberts, who joined the Robins from Buckland Athletic ahead of the current campaign.

Bideford head to Devon rivals, Willand Rovers on Wednesday evening before returning to home action with the visit of Bashley on Saturday.

IMAGE: Sean Gosling

Bideford AFC Web Site