Match report: Bashley FC beat Bideford AFC 2-1 to climb within seven points of the Southern League Division One play-off places
A clinical Bashley rounded off a run of three long-distance away trips in style with an excellent win, beating Bideford 2-1 at the Persimmon Homes Sports Ground on Saturday.
The defeat left Bideford looking over their shoulder after six games without a win. Bashley has now taken eight points from their last five games, leaving it seven points off the play-off places.
Influential skipper and centre-half Steve Walker returned to the line-up after a brief suspension, but his return was balanced out by the loss to a one-game ban of Dan Walster.
With just six minutes on the clock, Kyran Samadi made one of his tricky runs into the danger area and squared the ball hard and low into the middle. Keeper Mike Searle pushed it away, but an unmarked Connor Bent steered the ball home to score his first goal for the club from just a yard out.
Bash continued to control the match, and 10 minutes later, it was almost 2-0 when Luke Holmes made space for a shot, which Searle did well to keep out.
When Bideford finally got moving, they almost managed a leveller. Billy Tucker gave the defence the slip and forced the first serious action of the afternoon for AFC Bournemouth’s on-loan shot-stopper Mack Allan.
Bideford grew into the game and twice came close to equalising. Alex Moyse made a surging run down the right and sent in a deep cross for which centre-back Ollie Gardner rose highest. Luckily for Bash, his glancing header flashed wide before Josh Webber dragged a shot off target.
Bashley still had the lead at half-time, but the pressure had been building, and it took Bideford only three minutes of the second half to draw level. Allan made a rare fumble, and Javan Wright pounced on the loose ball to steer it in.
The parity would last for a total of two minutes, with Mitchell Speechley-Price grabbing his second goal since returning to Bashley. Bent sprinted past his defender and sent in a precise cross, which Speechley-Price met with an equally precise finish before celebrating enthusiastically.
Bideford’s Jamie Hearsey dragged a shot wide when well placed, but Bideford struggled to create a clear-cut chance while at the other end, Bashley skipper Walker almost wrapped it up with a header, which Searle saved.
Bashley still had to battle through the generous seven added minutes the ref awarded, and Bideford twice thought they had rescued a point, first when Mack kept out Jordan Ewing’s shot and then when Ewing came driving in from the right and shot wide.
The deserved win lifts Bashley to 10th in the table, seven points off the play-off places. Dave Lewis’s squad returns to the Veho Community Stadium on Saturday for a date with Bristol Manor Farm.
Bashley: M. Allan, H. Bertrand, M. Speechley-Price, T. Edmondson, S. Walker, L. Laird, K. Samadi, J. Bertie, C. Dunesby-Bent, L. Ross, L. Holmes. Subs: L. Waterfield, C. Whiteley, S. Lewis, B. Williams.
