Goals from Ellis Laight and Jamie Densham saw Bideford win 2 - 0 today in the pre-season game against Cornish side St Blazey.

The Sports Ground played host to Bideford AFC’s pre-season friendly against St Blazey today. With a strong starting line-up and other key players on the bench, Bideford were looking for a good win today, to add to the convincing victories against Elburton Villa and Tavistock.

Craig Duff put pen to paper today, signing from Kingskerswell, and Managers Player of the Year, Dominic Rivans has also signed for another year with the Robins. These two new signings follow the signing on of Sam Scott and Chris Brown last week.

The game kicked off and Bideford were quick to make their intensions clear, pushing forward at every opportunity. It took just 13 minutes for Bideford to grab the lead when Ellis Laight was given acres of space to charge towards the St Blazey defense. Free from challenge, he had time to look up and pick his spot and fired into the right corner of the goal, giving St Blazey keeper Dan Stevenson no chance to save.

Throughout the remainder of the first half Bideford continued to push for a second goal, but some good last ditch defending kept Bideford out. Matt Andrew saw his powerful shot bravely blocked, and Clay Bond saw his shot well handled by a diving Stevenson.

St Blazeys closest effort came close to half time when quick feet from St Blazeys Aaron Dilly threaded through Jay Isbell to be 1 v 1 with Ryan Draper, as Draper charged out to meet him, Isbell spooned his shot that flew over the bar.

Half time and Bideford have a deserved lead. Matt Andrew is playing a blinder, popping up all over the pitch, and in defense Matt Hockley and Ian Down are looking very much in control. To St Blazey’s credit, their counter-attacks have been very speedy and precise, and have often left the Bideford back four back tracking hastily.

The second half got underway and St Blazey came out looking like a different team, keeping the ball for longer periods and looking a danger for Bideford on a number of occasions. Luke Rundle saw his effort drift just over, and Aaron Dilley had his strong shot parried by Draper before Kiran Conibear’s effort hit the side netting.

Matt Downing was coming into his own at the other end, and a charge into the box and precise cross saw Nick Barkers diving header bounce just wide of the right post. Jamie Densham also set Billy Hopcroft free down the middle, but his 1 v 1 effort couldn’t find the target.

Then in the final minute, Jamie Densham stole the ball from the St Blazey defense, and in a solo effort closed in on the St Blazey keeper before calmly slotting it past him and into the back of the net.

Final whistle, and Bideford played very well against their Cornish opponents, Men of the Match would have to be Matt Andrew for his first half performance, and Matt Hockley, who extinguished a lot of St Blazey advances and looked confident on and off the ball.

Bidefords next match is the Mike Sparrey Cup encounter with Appledore at home on Wednesday at 7.45pm

Bideford Squad:

Draper, Down, Brown, Harris, Hockley, Bond, Andrew, Downing, Barker, Barker, Squire, Laight.

Subs: Densham, Scott, Duff, Hopcroft, Francis, Rivans

St Blazey Squad:

Stevenson, Douglass, Nute, Russell, Brimming, Dilley, Higman, Isbell, Nancarrow, Reski, Maddison.

Subs: Rundle, Trott, Hoyles, Conibear, Blackler