Late own goal gives Hungerford all the points

It was great to get a win at Bideford when the best we had managed were a couple of draws in previous visits, the points putting us up into 4th.place, a remarkable effort after a disappointing start to the season. In truth, the game never reached a high standard, the first half-hour in particular did not produce a goal-bound shot from either side but goals late in each half were enough to earn us victory, an outcome which was very satisfying and a credit to Bobby and the boys. Rain and heavy traffic etc did not augur well, but it turned out to be a pleasant and sunny afternoon and a perfect late summer evening.
The two sides cancelled each other out in the early stages, although a long-range effort from Billy Tucker for the home side went wide and Nat Jarvis was also just off target from Rhys Tyler’s cross but after this period of stalemate ended after 37 minutes when the home side won a corner and Kevin Squire’s kick was headed in at the near post by Ben Wood after the usual goalmouth jostling. The Bideford defence cleared the danger when Matt Collins’ corner was headed away and the 45 minutes was already up when Stefan Brown got possession in the penalty area and neatly turned the ball past Kyle Moore to level the scores.
Alan O’Brien earned his side a couple of corners but we were finding it difficult to create an opening, even a triple substitution still failing to produce any real chances, but although the home side pushed forward, they did not create any real chances and ,two free=kicks from Richard Groves were well off target until . a quick clearance sent O’Brien away down the left leaving the home defenders struggling, and his hard, low cross flew into the net off Nick Milton to leave the goal keeper stranded after 83 minutes and give us a narrow win.
Team; Strudley, Horgan, John, Boardman, Day, Rusby, Tyler(Rees),Collins(Clark)Jarvis(Goodger),Brown, O’Brien. Subs; Draycott, Jones.