Bideford’s winning run came to an end but they remain unbeaten in seven after a 1-1 draw with Mousehole at the Sports Ground on Saturday.

Josh Webber’s first half strike was cancelled out by Tallan Mitchell before Aaron Taylor was sent off in the second half for The Robins.

It was somewhat a game of two halves with Bideford having much the better of the first period and Mousehole looking stronger in the second. The Robins were causing problems for Mousehole down the left with good balls into the box from Webber and Finn Roberts.

Taylor almost stole in after charging down an attempted clearance but Ollie Chenoweth was alert to the danger. Roberts tried his luck from distance soon after but it was dragged comfortably wide in the end.

Mousehole came mightily close to opening the scoring on 17 minutes as Tim Nixon entered the box and crossed for Hayden Turner but his close range header came back off the crossbar.

Webber charged down a Chenoweth clearance as Bideford continued to apply pressure and a good cross from the same man just evaded the head of Archie Reay who was six yards from goal.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute for Bideford and Webber stole the ball from Josh Bissett and charged forward into the box before driving a low shot into the bottom corner past Chenoweth.

The Robins looked for another before half time but Chenoweth saved with his legs from Jordan Ewing’s shot on the turn, then tipped over from Reay’s strike after a cut back from Taylor. Chenoweth then had to save again from Reay, this time low at his near post.

The second half began as the first had ended with Rob Farkins going close from Ewing’s cross, before the latter saw an overhead kick cleared off the line.

Mousehole then began to take control of things and found an equaliser in the 67th minute after some lovely footwork from Mitchell took him into the box where he was able to poke the ball home low beyond Adam Seedhouse Evans.

A couple of wild efforts from Roberts and Lewis Hill didn’t trouble Chenoweth but the visitors were looking threatening at the other end.

There was a big flashpoint in the 81st minute when former Robin was fouled on the edge of his own penalty area which led a couple of Mousehole players shoving Taylor. The Bideford captain retaliated with a shove of his own which ended with Mitchell lying on the floor holding his face. The referee showed Taylor a red card.

With the man advantage, Mousehole came very close to winning it but Mitchell’s strike was kept out by a wonderful save from Seedhouse Evans to ensure the points would be shared.

Bideford: Seedhouse Evans, Heeney, Mayne, Farkins, Roberts, Taylor, Winsor, Reay (Hill 58), Webber (Clark 69), Ewing, Turner. Subs not used: Madden, Mitchell, Down.

Goals:
Bideford: Webber 31
Mousehole: Mitchell 67

Red card: Taylor 81

Attendance: 239