Sean Joyce's fears are allayed as Robins have him in seventh heaven
Sean Joyce's fears that his Bideford side may have been "a bit rusty" following a two-week lay-off were allayed by their biggest win since promotion to the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division.
Bideford avenged a 2-1 home defeat by Westcountry rivals Chippenham Town by beating them 7-1 at Hardenhuish Road, reportedly the Bluebirds' biggest defeat since they joined the Southern League a decade ago.
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Bideford striker Kevin Squire scored twice in the Robins' 7-1 thrashing of Chippenham Town
There was no stopping Joyce's rampant Robins after they took an 18th-minute lead through quick-thinking front man Kevin Squire.
Squire swept in to squeeze the ball into an unguarded net after home goalkeeper Ben John tried to allow it to go out of play for a goal-kick.
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By the time north Devon-based Squire scored his second goal in the 81st minute, Bideford were 6-1 up and coasting to a memorable win.
Aaron Harper-Penman made it 2-0 following a goalmouth scramble in the 41st minute, and just before half-time Matt Bye beat John with a deft chip to make it 3-0.
Tom Knighton reduced the arrears at the start of the second half, latching on to a Brandon Barnes free-kick to score from close range.
Bideford restored their three-goal advantage when Sean Downing scored the first of his quick-fire double two minutes after Knighton's 51st-minute tap-in.
Downing drilled the ball past beleaguered John in the 53rd and 56th minutes to put the north Devon club 5-1 up.
Man of the match Downing – whose second goal pinged in off a post – now has nine goals in the Southern League top flight this term.
Matt Andrew took his tally to five goals in as many games and eight in the League to put Bideford 6-1 ahead before Squire's 10th League goal of the term.
Victory hoisted Bideford back above Chippenham to 15th with a point and a match in hand on the Wiltshire side, whose player-manager is former Tiverton Town central defender Nathan Rudge.
Bideford's win also earned them national radio recognition as Robbie Savage's non-League team of the day on BBC Radio Five Live's 606 show.
Following a month without playing a League game, Tiverton suffered a 4-1 Division One South and West defeat in Oxfordshire at Didcot Town but remain fifth in the table.
Mark Saunders' side trailed 2-0 before the break, and before Jules Emati-Emati reduced the deficit via a home defender on 54 minutes.
Didcot surged 3-1 up before Joe Bushin fired a penalty over the crossbar and the home side completed the scoring.
Shaun Lewis scored Ilfracombe Town's 82nd-minute winner as they beat Longwell Green 1-0 in the Western League Premier Division.
FA Vase heroes Larkhall Athletic carried on where they left off, winning 3-0 at Buckland Athletic, while Barnstaple Town suffered a 3-1 defeat at Cadbury Heath.
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