Barnstaple Town 0-4 Bishops Cleeve (HT 0-4)
Pitching In Southern League Division One South
Saturday 12th September 2026
At Mill Road

The gap in quality between the League's very top sides and the rest was in evidence as Bishops Cleeve swept aside the slow-starting hosts with a wind-assisted first half barrage, who scored early on and then virtually settled the outcome with three more goals in the ten minutes before the interval.

All the visitors' goals came from similarly quick but simple breaks as they energetically harried Barum into losing possession higher up the pitch, followed by decisive finishing in the 7th, 36th, 43rd and 44th minutes.

There were a couple of “what-might-have-been" moments for the hosts with the score 2-0, when Josh Parry sprinted through to shoot wide with only the keeper to beat, and shortly afterwards a plausible penalty shout was turned down when the same player was tackled heavily in the area. And, significantly, within a couple of minutes The Mitres had capitalised on their double reprieve with two more goals of their own.

The second half was a different story, Barum showing great character and persistence to begin to impose themselves on the game. Carving out numerous openings with goal-bound efforts repelled by determined defending and obstinate goalkeeping, the Town can consider themselves unfortunate not to have got themselves on the scoresheet, while at the other end Ollie Saunders in the home goal had a much quieter 45 minutes.

The big challenges now keep coming as Barum face unbeaten Exmouth Town at Home on Tuesday evening (15th), followed by an Away trip to Melksham Town on Saturday (19th), and then two Home games against sides relegated from Step 3 - the current perfect-record League leaders Swindon Supermarine on Tuesday 22nd, and Hungerford Town on Saturday 26th.

Barnstaple Town line-up v Bishops Cleeve (with substitutes):
Ollie Saunders (GK), Brodie Montague, Alex Moyse (Scott Piper 58'), Tommy Rogers, Lee Gardiner (Capt). Adam Hill, Tyler Elliott, Luke Mortimore (River Allen 58'), Gabby Rogers, Joe Grigg (Fin King-Smith 61'), Josh Parry (Oscar Knight 76') . Sub not used: Charlie Wright.

Attendance: 193.

Match officials:
Carl Warren (Referee) with Geoff Davey and Oliver Abercrombie (Assistants).