Bideford AFC Reserves

And that’s a wrap…..

What a season it’s been for the Robins! A number of players making debuts for the 1st team, with our very own George King receiving multiple call ups for league fixtures.

Bringing through 5 members of the u16 squad becoming key players and playing several games over the course of the season ready for their first full season in adults football.

Promotion secured, finishing second behind a fantastic Bradworthy Football Club Who finished the league unbeaten! Huge achievement congratulations 🍻

And…….Becoming league cup champions, going on to defeat the league leaders.

A fantastic achievement for the lads and a big jump from where the club was sat a couple of years ago.

Up the Robins 🔴⚪️

🏆 Bideford AFC 2nd — Senior Division Runners‑Up 2026! 🏆

Bideford AFC 2nd have claimed the Senior Division runners‑up spot for 2026 after what became a genuine two‑horse race at the top.

For much of the season, South Molton 1st were right on their heels, pushing the Robins all the way in a tense battle for second place. And when Bideford suffered a 1–3 home defeat to the Images, it looked as though momentum might be slipping away.

But the response was outstanding. The squad regrouped, refocused, and produced a six‑game winning streak to finish the campaign in real style — securing second place with authority and showing the character of a side determined to finish strong.

A superb achievement for the club and a season they can be proud of.

👏⚽

⚽️ Yes Kingers ❤️

🔴 Combe Martin 2nds 0-3 Bideford Reserves

Following our cup final win last week and promotion confirmed the week before the season looked like a success ahead of our final game of the season away at Combe Martin. With a poll out in the WhatsApp group the replies filtered through and by Friday evening we had 18… unavailable through injury, work commitments and holidays, down to the bare bones with no recognised goalkeeper and both managers Connor Henderson and Adam Randleson named in the Matchday squad of 12, a first start in 4 years for Henderson and a proper return to football for Randleson after nearly 8 years. We knew it would be tough having such a small squad but we started well creating a couple of chances well saved by the Combe Martin Keeper, 0-0 at halftime and the game was there to be won, Combe Martin were awarded a penalty after 2 players went up for a header in the box, the Combe Martin forward was obviously intimated by Matty Fay between the sticks and smashed his penalty off the top of the bar and over, this scare brought us to life with some good play through midfield where George King played Josh Holmes in to bag another goal. We carried on our good play and grabbed a 2nd shortly after, ball played into Connor Henderson on the right who got his head up saw a run from midfield by Kian Hollingsworth, an inch perfect pass that Kevin De Bruyne would have been proud of found the on rushing midfielder who calmly slotted the ball away, assist of the year some say. With 10 minutes left to go Henderson’s day was nearly over after a “sprint” to the corner flag had the substitute Randleson limbering up and in perfect timing from a goal kick less than a minute later the ball reached the influential playmaker, a chest control and volley over the bar saw both calves begin to cramp up, the long awaited return of Randleson was here and was involved straight away with a throw in to George King who played in Connor Davis to grab our 3rd of the afternoon.

⭐️ MOTM ⭐️ - Connor Henderson

AND YES WRITE UP BROUGHT TO YOU BY CONNOR HENDERSON

🔴Bideford Reserves 1-0 Bradworthy🔴
(ANOTHER CATCH UP POST 2/5/26)

We arrived at Hollands park in very wet conditions, with the squad dressed to the nines pre match photos were done under the cover of the stage just outside the clubhouse.

The message to the boys was simple, it’s a cup final anything can happen. The first half saw a tight affair against a tough and physical Bradworthy that got the better of us in both league games across the season, a scare in the opening couple of minutes with the surface being sold but slippery on top as Keeper Jake slid out to gather a through ball and nearly slid out of the penalty area. The first half was a tight encounter with both teams a little nervous, an attempted flying volley from Kian Hollingsworth and Josh Holmes 1 on 1 were fantastically saved by the Bradworthy keeper. With 4 minutes to go untill half time George King whipped a corner in which was nearly met by George Tozer attempting an overhead kick, unfortunately for Tozer that was the end of his final with a dislocated shoulder, with Alex Wright coming on 6 days after completing the London Marathon.

At the break 0-0 and having the better of the chances in the first half, we knew Bradworthy would come out strong and looking for a better 2nd half by their standards. Our good football continued with Connor Davis going close with a delicious curling effort just going past the post, Bradworthy created an attack which we managed to stop and countered, Josh Holmes took the ball over the left side of the half way line and into the Bradworthy half, waited for support then fizzed an excellent ball out to the on rushing George King who stood his man up cut inside and whipped an absolute worldie into the top corner, scenes on the Bideford bench and from the watching crowd.
The following 30 Minutes were a mixture of nerves from the bench and composure from the 11 on the pitch, Will Phillips at just 16 years old was brought on to give us some extra legs and was an impact straight away with a through ball played to the youngster getting smashed up into the air on the halfway line with the defender miles away from the ball. The young forward continued to have an impact on the game after some great work down the right from Karne Elphick a few passes into the box and Will had his shot saved by the keeper denying him a first goal in men’s football with 8 minutes on the clock.
The final few minutes saw Bradworthy pushing on trying to equalise but Jake Withecombe showed his class claiming crosses and corners.
Full time 1-0 !!
Well played Bradworthy in challenging conditions.

⭐️ MOTM🌟 - George King - another top class display not only scoring a goal worthy of winning any cup final but his hard work and tracking back to help the time while under the cosh

Write up courtesy of manager Connor Henderson.

🔴Better late than never 28/4/26 🔴

With a Cup final on Saturday the message was simple start quick and get the job done and relax which lead us to being 4-0 after 24 minutes.

Everything going to plan until a shammy clearance hunted down by the left winger 5 yards offside, play waved on, the winger headed it past Jake (GK) who’s instinctively dragged the player back. Penalty given 🔴 card shown. Shammy made it 4-1 from the spot.

HT 4-1

Second half Shammy came out strong sniffing at a chance of a comeback and we came out looking nervous for 10 minutes leading to Shammy pulling a second goal back. 4-2 game on!

After a nervous 10 minutes we regained composure and control of the game leading to a Rocket on the half volley 30 yards straight into the top bins out from Kian. 5-2

We went on to take control of the game despite a man down scoring a 6 through dan bailey being a predator in the box.

Final goal came from George nestleing his free kick into the top corner from 20 yards.

FT 7-2

A game very much controlled for 80 minutes despite the red card giving us a promising result going into the weekend.

⭐️ MOTM - Karne
🔴 DOTD - Jake

⚽️ GAMEDAY ⚽️
For the final time this season we travel away to Combe Martin, just a week after winning the Combe Martin Cup on the same pitch.
Kick Off 2.30

🔴 And the Lads Delivered 🔴

🔴 COMBE MARTIN CUP CHAMPIONS 🔴

🔴 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🔴

*Match report to follow*

The Boys turned up to the final….