Bideford are through to the final of the Devon St Luke’s Bowl after a dramatic late turnaround at Ivybridge on Wednesday night.

The Robins were minutes away from exiting the competition until two goals in three minutes from Finn Roberts and Jordan Ewing set up a final meeting with local rivals Barnstaple Town.

It was a strong start for Bideford who could have been a couple of goals ahead inside the first 15 minutes. Jack Winsor broke into the box from the right and cut the ball back for Jamie Hearsey to strike but Jordan Duffey made a really good save to deny him.

Hearsey fired another one just over from 20 yards out and Finn Roberts went close with a free kick which flew just the wrong side of the post with Duffey rooted to the spot.

Ivybridge then gradually began to threaten as Oliver Gardner made a great block from a well struck volley and Harry Jeffrey got in behind but elected to pass when in a decent position.

Mike Searle then pulled off a fantastic save where he somehow managed to reach out and deflect a downward header from Sean Thomson up onto the crossbar, which was not too dissimilar to Gordon Banks’ famous save from Pele.

Bideford regained some control of the contest as the game approached half time with Duffey saving from Scott Robinson at his near post.

The hosts began the second period the better and went close in the 49th minute as Rio Daly struck a shot just off target. The Robins weren’t so lucky two minutes later.

Searle was forced to leave his penalty area to head away a forward ball but was left stranded when the ball was launched forward again and Bailey Mabin lobbed the ball over his head into an empty net.

Alex Moyse fired a volley just wide in response before the home side’s physical approach came back to haunt them. Owen Pritchard was shown a straight red card for a silly challenge near the touchline on Gardner leaving his side to play the last half an hour with 10 men.

Bideford applied pressure as Ivybridge were finding it harder to venture forward themselves.

Louie Slough’s hooked effort from a long throw landed safely in the goalkeepers arms, while a powerful strike from Roberts was spilled before being hacked away from danger.

Ewing won a header in midfield which sent Robinson racing away down the left but his strike was wide of the near post and Josh Webber did likewise from an even better position two minutes later.

The opportunity to draw level came just a minute from the end of 90 minutes when Webber worked his way to the byline and his cross struck the arm of a defender resulting in a spot kick. Roberts stepped up to send Duffey the wrong way from 12 yards with the Robins keen to restart the action as quickly as possible.

Less than three minutes later, Bideford completed the turnaround as Webber crossed from the right for Ewing to plant a header past Duffey and spark wild celebrations with the away support.

Bideford will now face rivals Barnstaple Town in the final of the competition on Wednesday 7th May with a 7:15pm kick off at Coach Road, Newton Abbot.

Bideford: Searle, Heeney, Gardner, L Slough, F Roberts, Hearsey (Reay 70), Moyse, Winsor, Webber, Robinson, Ewing. Subs not used: Pyman, King, Withercombe (GK).

Goals:
Ivybridge: Mabin 51
Bideford: Roberts 89 pen, Ewing 90+2

Attendance: TBC