BIDEFORD remain in charge of the Toolstation Western League title race after a 2-2 draw against 10-man Ilfracombe Town this afternoon.

The hard-earned draw means the Robins are 13 points clear of second placed Willand Rovers who won at Wellington.

While Willand can still pull level by winning their five games in hand, Sean Joyce's team have a superior goal difference.

All four goals and a controversial red card for visiting defender Karl Baggaley came in an absorbing first half at the Sports Ground.

The battling Bluebirds defended superbly and might even have won the game when Mike Hedden had a late effort ruled out for offside.

Shaun Lewis sneaked behind a flat-footed defence to give the visitors the lead inside six minutes.

But the match hinged when Baggaley was sent off by referee Lee Swabey for an alleged stamp on Matt Hockley 10 minutes before the break.

The linesman spotted a foul off the ball, but the offence was a mystery for players from both sides and many among the 334 crowd.

With Baggaley walking off protesting his innocence, Combe were hit with the double-whammy of red card and penalty kick.

Ashley Yeoman swept the spotkick past goalkeeper Steve Oliver to equalise with his eighth goal for the club.

It was the start of a crazy 10-minute spell featuring goal-of-the-season contenders from two defenders.

First Bideford centre back Darren Hawkings stepped forward to crash an unstoppable freekick past Oliver and into the top corner from 25 yards.

Then Combe responded in first-half stoppage time with a stunning strike from Darren Parish.

Arriving onto a lose ball from similar range, the right back's swerving shot gave Ryan Draper no chance.

The second half failed to live up to the entertainment of the first.

Ilfracombe regrouped and looked to hit on the break with the strength of Lee Langmead and the pace of Shaun Lewis and Steve Holland.

And Biddy never found the fluency to break down a defence expertly marshalled by Neil Bettiss and James Mayne.

When they did find a way through, Oliver made a great reaction save to deny substitute Kevin Squire from close-range.

Squire, who hit the only goal when the two sides met at Marlborough Park in January, had another chance to win it late on.

But he prodded wide after Oliver spilled Hockley's up-and-under.

Hedden thought he had clinched all three points when a low drive sneaked past Draper from the edge of the area.

Yet the linesman insisted Shaun Lewis, who supplied the initial cross, was in an offside position and obstructing Draper's view.

In the end both teams could be reasonably satisfied at the final whistle.

Bideford have only taken one point from two tough derby games but they remain favourites for the championship.

And despite their numerical disadvantage, Ilfracombe's battling display has kept them on course for a top-three finish.

● See Thursday's Journal for a full report and reaction from the game.

Bideford: Ryan Draper, Nick Barker, Ben Wood, Chris Brown, Rob Francis (Kevin Squire 72), Darren Hawkings, Ian Down, Matt Hockley, Matt Andrew, Ellis Laight, Ashley Yeoman (Jamie Densham 76). Sub not used: Clay Bond.

Ilfracombe Town: Steve Oliver, Karl Baggaley, Darren Parish, Neil Bettiss, James Mayne, Ross Middleton, Mike Hedden, Jon Vooght, Steve Holland, Lee Langmead, Shaun Lewis. Subs not used: Tom Rossiter, Leon Taswell, Lee Francis.