Evo-Stik Southern League West
Bideford 3
Cirencester Town 0
TWO goals in the first five minutes – and two hard-to-take decisions from the referee – set Cirencester Town on the road to defeat at a buoyant Bideford.

After a number of excellent performances in recent weeks this was a poor effort by the visitors.

What makes it even more hard to explain is that only one change was made compared to the side which defeated Evesham United in the FA Trophy last Sunday – former Centurion Jordan Ricketts taking the place of James Mortimer-Jones.

Ricketts, who joined on a dual registration with Chippenham Town, played up front with Ben Whitehead in a 4-4-2. Bideford opened the scoring after two minutes with a sensational 30-yard strike from Billy Tucker and three minutes later Ryan Turner stepped up to smash a dubious penalty kick into the bottom left corner after Tucker had gone to ground easily in the box.

New signing Ricketts and Matt Jones tested the home defence and 10 minutes before the interval Cirencester replaced Will Christopher with Matt Coupe and changed the formation to 3-5-2.

But on the stroke of half-time Bideford added a third as Craig Allen challenged for a cross with two defenders and managed to prod the ball home from a yard to give his side a 3-0 lead at the interval.

The visitors had a further setback on the hour when ‘keeper Matt Wieczorek was dismissed after colliding with Turner as he charged from his box to make a clearance.

Henry Spalding was forfeited to enable goalkeeping coach Scott Rose to take over in goal.

Despite probing the flanks and edge of the home penalty area, Cirencester were unable to make the breakthrough and Bideford comfortably took the three points.

Cirencester Town: Wieczorek, Christopher (Coupe, 37), Jones, Horrell, Stoddart, Lewis, Ricketts (Mortimer-Jones, 70), Connolly (capt), Whitehead, Bennett, Spalding (Rose, 63).

Unused sub: Alan Griffin.