Last-gasp defensive heroics from Rob Flooks earns Bashley three points against Bideford

Southern League Division One

Bashley FC 3

Bideford AFC 2

BASHLEY were grateful for a heroic piece of defending in the match’s dying embers that sealed a 3-2 win over Bideford AFC at the Veho Community Stadium.

Central defender Rob Flooks, missing since pre-season through injury, flew across the goalmouth to get in a sensational sliding block when Alex Moyse took aim at a gaping net from just a couple of yards out.

It looked like the Bideford man had to score, but Flooks appeared from nowhere to preserve the hard-earned three points, which lifted Bashley to fourth in the table.

The hosts started slowly, with key players like skipper Steve Walker suspended, striker Conor Whiteley out injured, and midfield general Luke Holmes pulled up during the warm-up.

Bashley were one down after 15 minutes, and could easily have been three adrift by that stage had they not showed fortitude.

Bashley keeper Mack Allan had made multiple saves but could not keep the Devon side out forever. Will Tucker caught the Bashley players napping, sliding a corner to the edge of the area, where an unmarked Finn Roberts crashed the ball beyond the unsighted Allan from 25 yards out.

Brett Williams got Bashley back into it after the ball broke to Luke Delaney after the former’s long, mazy run past several defenders. Delaney smacked the ball well out of keeper Andy Sowden-Bird’s reach.

Bashley took the lead with 27 minutes played. Some neat build-up, started by Charlie Wooding and moved on by Lewis Waterfield, culminated with Jamie Power bursting into the area from the right and teeing up a low cross for Brett Williams to tap into an empty net.

Bashley looked in total control until things went pear-shaped, with Bideford pulling level from a controversial 74th-minute penalty. Dan Walster attempted a full-stretch clearance in the centre of the box, and his follow-through upended Alex Byrne.

Tucker fired high into the net, with Allan diving the opposite way.

Bashley eased the fears of an impending draw within four minutes. A flowing move down the left ended with Delaney sending Josh Bertie away on the overlap. He crossed into the pack on the six-yard line and Scott Bungay, on as a substitute 15 minutes earlier, rose highest to head it in off the far post.

Thanks to the last-gasp heroics from Flooks, Bashley held on for three points.

Bashley travel to face Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday at 3pm.

Bashley: M. Allan, H. Bertrand, R. Flooks, D. Walster, M. Speechley-Price, L. Waterfield, C. Wooding, B. Williams, J. Power, L. Ross, L. Delaney. Subs: J. Bertie, S. Bungay, J. Arnold, S. Gadsby, L. Goad.