A deft headed goal from experienced striker Craig Duff five minutes after the break was enough to dump Bridgwater United out of this season’s FA Cup at the first hurdle at a sunny but blustery Sports Ground on Saturday.

The battle of the Robins was always going to be a close encounter and so it proved with both sides guilty of squandering what chances there were but the home side seemed to adapt to the windy conditions better but Bridgy were in the game until the final whistle and now head to Keynsham on Tuesday to continue their excellent Western League start.

Dave Pearse made one change with that game in mind, giving Ollie Hebbard a full debut in place of Jake Brown and with FA Cup rules allowing three substitutes from seven nominated there were always going to be changes.

It was a tense clash where both were guilty of missed chances in a game which had its exciting moments but was stunted by too many free-kicks.

Bridgwater had come off the back of two superb opening wins in the league and began well with Ollie Hebbard bringing a save out of Adam Seedhouse-Evans but Lewis Wilson and Javan Wright went close at the other end.

Bridgy began to be frustrated at the foul count and Bideford took advantage to dominate until the Somerset Robins squandered two chances in as many minutes midway through the half when Jack Taylor miskicked after Conor Hartley set him up then the former Bideford winger was through after Taylor returned the favour but he was just denied on the line.

With the blustery wind behind them the home side had the bulk of possession but Bridgy were always in the game, despite Duff’s early goal and Tom Llewellyn’s free-kick caused problems and just flew wide of the far post before Lewis Wilson was free in the box but the away defence somehow kept it out.

Hartley then drove into the side netting around the hour mark but a raft of substitutions, cautions and free-kicks broke up the flow of the game until Viney flew to his left to parry a Duff free-kick.

Llewellyn drove a volley wide but that was the final chance and Bideford move on while Bridgwater were left to rue wasted first half chances.

Bridgwater Utd:

Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Jake Llewellyn, Mark Armstrong, Jordan Greenwood, Ross Edwards, Morgan Williams, Tom Llewellyn, Jack Taylor, Conor Hartley, Ollie Hebbard

Subs: Mike Duffy, Jake Brown, Troy Simpson (used),

Jacob Spence, Harry Durant, Josh Phillips, George King (unused)

Bideford:

Adam Seedhouse-Evans, Ashley Mitchel, Alex Byrne, Joe Charles, Ben Gerring, Adam Hill, Javan Wright, Aaron Taylor, Craig Duff, Lewis Wilson, Ethan Phillips.

Subs: Archie Reay, Lewis Brooks, Louis Jagger Cane, Josh Coles

Competition: FA Cup extra-preliminary Rd

Date: Aug 6 2022

Venue: Sports Ground

Attendance: 213

Referee: Graeme Martin

Assistants: David Sellars, Gerald Luscombe

Report: Kerry Miller

Preview:

With both Bridgy and Keynsham going out of the cup on Saturday, Tuesday’s league game survives and United will expect to preserve their 100 % record in Bristol.

Town lost their management and most of their squad to Hellenic League Mangotsfield United following the well documented Mousehole away trip problem and the new side has endured three heavy defeats in the first week of the new campaign.

On Saturday United go up the A39 to take on Street in the first of two local derbies with the Cobblers this month and will be mindful of some poor showings there in recent times including the Les Phillips Cup Final from 15 months ago and last season’s league game which went south late on.

The cup exit has meant a slight change in the fixtures as Bitton now visit Fairfax Park on Saturday week, Aug 20 instead of the following Tuesday.