Saturday, February 2

North Devon League

Arlington Cup (semi-final)

Bideford Community AFC Reserves 4 (AET)

Bridgerule 5

ROB Pearce netted a late winner in extra-time as Bridgerule booked their place in the Arlington Cup final with a remarkable 5-4 victory over Bideford Community AFC Reserves at Moreton Park.

Coming into it on the back of two defeats in their last three games, Bridgerule were left scratching their heads after two quickfire goals from Kyle England and Tom Barton put Bideford 2-0 up midway through the first-half against the run of play.

Despite the uphill task ahead of them, Bridgerule battled back and halved the deficit minutes later after a cross from Frank Barriball found Jedd Peschke at the back-post who bundled home from close range after Jacob Nosworthy rose highest, despite appeals for a foul on Bideford goalkeeper Pete Ellis.

This goal really spurred Bridgerule into life and saw them begin to move the ball with more purpose, in similar fashion to what they had done before the turn of the year.

The second goal soon followed after a surging run from midfielder Jack Burnley saw him brought down on the edge of the Bideford box. After a debate between Brendan Hearn and Rob Pearce for who was going to take the free-kick, Pearce stepped up and found the bottom corner after his effort took a slight deflection off of the Bideford wall.

The second-half started as a cagey affair with both sides battling hard to reach the finale of this season’s league cup for Intermediate One clubs. After a very stop-start encounter which was handled brilliantly by referee Alan Webster, Bideford were awarded a penalty which was duly dispatched by Barton to give the hosts a 3-2 lead.

However, Bridgerule refused to lie down and after another cross from Barriball found Peschke, he made no mistake in guiding his header into the far corner.

Bridgerule had further chances to seal the tie in normal time including Pearce hitting the underside of the crossbar, but they were unable to find the net with extra-time looming.

Bideford regained the lead shortly into the first period of extra-time after a scramble in the Bridgerule penalty area was put in by England for his second of the game, sparking jubilant scenes amongst the home players and supporters.

Despite Bideford using all their experience to see the game out, Bridgerule pegged them back once more. A good run by Jason Collins down the Bideford right led to him finding an unmarked Barriball in the penalty area who shot across goal into the far corner with his weaker right foot.

With penalties on the horizon, Bridgerule certainly did save the best til last. After sustained pressure against their tiring hosts, Pearce’s sweet strike from the edge of the box nestled into the bottom corner leaving goalkeeper Ellis with no chance.

Despite Bideford’s best efforts, the Bridgerule rearguard of Callum Lock, Dean Wickett, Adam Wosnitzka, Ben Johns and Collins stood firm and ensured Bridgerule held on for the sweetest of victories.