Wembley dream ends in the FA Vase for brave Barnstaple Town FC

After a magical run that took them to within three matches of playing on the hallowed turf of Wembley, Barnstaple Town bowed out of the FA Vase with a 2-1 defeat against AFC Stoneham from the Wessex League.

The pitch at Mill Road passed an inspection early on Saturday morning following a wet end to last week, but home enthusiasm was dampened when Stoneham grabbed the lead from the penalty spot on 37 minutes.

Despite that setback, Barum were proving a real match for their powerful opponents and the game remained in the balance until 10 minutes into second period, when Oliver Jenkins picked out the bottom corner to double the Stoneham lead.

Barnstaple kept toiling away in search of some hope, and that finally arrived five minutes from time, as Stoneham were reduced to ten men and moments later, Tommy Rogers halved the deficit to set up a frantic finish.

There was no shortage of effort from Barum, who also had a man dismissed in the closing stages, but Stoneham held on for the victory.

Back to the Western League on Saturday and a visit from Saltash United. Barum’s incredible cup exploits means they have a number of games in hand on the teams around them, and a massive opportunity to at least cement a place in the play-offs.

Bideford took another big step toward securing Southern League football next term and, crucially, avoiding the late-season stress of worrying about a relegation scrap.

At times, it was a trudge at home to Didcot Town, another side looking to build a cushion above the bottom four. Ryan Turner had the first chance for the Robins, saved by the legs of visiting custodian Finlay Coles.

At the other end, Alex Byrne produced an outstanding challenge to thwart a certain goal for Didcot before Turner struck the post with a header.

Into the second half, Bideford ramped up the pressure and finally got their reward with 20 minutes left on the clock. A long throw from Finn Roberts prompted mayhem in the Didcot defence and Turner was on hand to slot home the loose ball.

Security was confirmed ten minutes later, Charlie Wright cutting in from the left flank and squaring a perfectly weighted pass for the arriving Roberts to slam a sweet finish into the bottom corner.

The 2-0 victory has given the Robins a seven-point gap above a bottom four that contains three Devon teams, Willand Rovers and Brixham AFC, both of whom have a chance of escape, but Tavistock look cut adrift at the bottom.

Bideford travel to Falmouth this weekend and another big opportunity to amass points against a side in the bottom half of the table.