A Finn Roberts goal saw Exmouth Town beaten 1-0 by Bideford AFC at the Sports Ground, in a windy Southern League Division One South affair.

The midfielder’s speculative free-kick was the only goal of the game, with Town failing to take their chances, despite the hosts going down to ten men in the second half.

It was the wind who had the biggest impact in the early exchanges, as neither side were able to keep the ball in play for long.

Town would have a great chance when Aarron Denny got onto the end of a loose backpass, but he was denied by Shaun Semmens, with the follow-up from Tom Bath forcing a second save.

The following corner would find the head of Ross Edwards, who put the ball towards goal before Denny’s flick sent it wide.

Bideford would start to grow into the game, with Bath having to do some defensive work to prevent a shot from testing Chris Wright.

The striker would then get a chance in his preferred area, as Mike Landricombe’s cross floated towards him, but his header was saved by Semmens.

With the game relatively even, the hosts earned a free-kick around 40 yards from goal, where Roberts floated the ball, and helped by the wind, it ended up in the back of the net.

Bideford started the second half quickly, and should have potentially had a second when Harvey Field rose at the back post to head just wide.

Town will feel like they should have been level before the hour mark, as Bath was played through on goal by a Bideford man, and after skipping away from the goalkeeper, he rolled the ball wide of the mark.

As Exmouth pushed more bodies forward, chances became available on the break for the hosts, with Brad Williams breaking through the lines before being denied by Wright.

The Robins would go down to ten men when Field, who was already on a yellow card, brought Denny down as he raced through on goal.

Exmouth would look to capitalise on the man advantage, and they almost did when Sam Morcom’s corner bounced onto the bar, with no one there to pounce on the rebound.

Town would push forwards, but struggled to really create any chances of note, with the best coming from a long Ace High throw-in, which was headed on by Ross Edwards into the path of Ben Steer, but he headed wide.

It was a disappointing defeat for Town, who have a tough test this Saturday, as they take on the recently crowned Southern League Division One South champions, Frome Town at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Line-Up: C.Wright, Morcom, Belsten, Edwards, Landricombe, Cann (Steer, 66), Shipton (Griffith, 73), Knowles (Akingbade, 85), Denny, Bath, M.Wright (High, 25). 

Subs Not Used: Shore.