TROY SIMPSON'S 91st-minute winner for Bristol Manor Farm was a devastating blow to Barnstaple Town.

Owen Pickard's side had boosted their chances of Toolstation Premier Division survival with a 3-1 win over Brislington on Saturday.

And they maintained that form in Bristol on Tuesday night, only to suffer a 1-0 defeat when Simpson had a free header from an injury-time corner.

"It was devastating," said Pickard. "All the lads are really downhearted but I think all we can do is take the positives from the last two tremendous displays, I've been delighted."

Barnstaple had chances to take the lead. Matt Deakin hit the inside of a post and saw the ball rebound into the goalkeeper's arms. Ian Patchett had a one-on-one and opted to square the ball for Ryan Turner who was blocked.

Town also felt they should have had a penalty when Steve Shore went down, but the referee only awarded a corner.

Barum haven't always had the rub of the green this season. So fans at Mill Road will probably argue they were due a bit of fortune when the ball cannoned in off a Brislington defender on Saturday.

Jason Hughes inadvertently found his own net from Shane Tolley's corner to put Town 2-1 up with seven minutes to go.

Turner sealed a 3-1 win in stoppage-time.

"It wasn't our best footballing performance but the discipline and commitment was fantastic and to out-bully Brislington was great," said Pickard.

It was a scrappy game for large spells yet the hosts produced an excellent response when they needed it most. Leading from the fourth minute after Tolley smashed home his eighth goal of the season, they looked solid enough at the back.

Part of the reason for that was an impressive debut from goalkeeper Lloyd Irish, signed from Taunton Town in the wake of Jamie Pow's midweek injury with the reserves.

Irish wasn't peppered with shots but his handling was excellent as the visitors pressed forward with a string of free-kicks from Kye Mountford.

Five minutes after the break though, Keith Williams raced into the right channel to slam in the equaliser.

It was a shaky spell for Barum who had to replace the injured Joe Pryce and Stan Paxton at half-time and sub Cory Roach was forced off with a shoulder injury 10 minutes after going on.

That meant player-boss Pickard was called into the action and Town had used all three subs in the first 55 minutes.

Tolley almost lifted home spirits, drilling a 25-yard shot against the post, before he forced the breakthrough via the unlucky Hughes. Hard-working Turner secured the points from Patchett's free-kick.