WHEN Bideford met Ilfracombe Town on a bitterly cold January afternoon at Marlborough Park, all the talk was about excellent defending

The Robins won a tense derby 1-0 as both sides produced steely displays in the icy conditions.

Fast forward to the Easter Monday rematch at the Sports Ground and defenders were grabbing the limelight again in a 2-2 draw.

Only this time it was as though they had been taking shooting lessons from a Brazilian soccer school.

An unstoppable free-kick from Bideford centre-back Darren Hawkings rifled past Steve Oliver from 25 yards to put the home side 2-1 up.

Not to be outdone, Combe right- back Darren Parish swerved a stunning equaliser into the top corner from similar range, making it 2-2 by half-time.

That pair of spectacular goals and a controversial sending-off for Ilfracombe left-back Karl Baggaley provided the lasting memories from a typically hard-fought North Devon derby.

Back at his former club, Shaun Lewis took just six minutes to burst away from a flat-footed defence for the opening goal.

But the game hinged on the 36th-minute red card for Baggaley, given for a stamp on Matt Hockley.

The assistant referee spotted a foul off the ball, but the offence was a mystery to 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.

Ashley Yeoman tucked away the spot-kick to equalise and suddenly the last 10 minutes of the first half became a goal of the season competition.

Having scored against Barnstaple Town on Boxing Day, Hawkings came up with another big moment for his second goal of the campaign. With all the venom usually reserved for a booming defensive header or row Z clearance, he unleashed an absolute rocket.

A bolt from the Blues, by Parish, was the perfect riposte and a great way to grab his first of the campaign.

Ilfracombe boss Barry Yeo said: "Fair play to Hawky, that was an unbelievable strike, and fair play to Darren Parish. He's pulled one out of the top drawer and responded with an absolute screamer himself.

"I hope people talk more about that than the referee's performance."

Still seething about the sending-off, Yeo noted Baggaley is a committed player but not one who would deliberately stamp on an opponent.

"He tried to get out of the way," said Yeo. "I don't know what the referee gave it for and I don't think he knows."

After winning their previous home game 4-0, also against a team with a player sent off for stamping, Bideford boss Sean Joyce knew Combe would be made of sterner stuff.

"They were not going to be like Larkhall who came down here and threw the towel in when they went down to 10 men," said Joyce.

"They're competitive without being dirty. They're a good, honest side and you can see why they are third in the league.

"I would have preferred them to have 11. I think the sending-off killed us. It made it easier for them in a way.

"They sat deep and you've got to be brave enough to break them down.

"It suited them playing Lee Langmead up front and the two quick lads either side. I was wary of their pace with Shaun Lewis and Steve Holland."

Jon Vooght had to clear a header from Ellis Laight and Oliver blocked well from Matt Andrew before the break.

But Oliver was underworked in the second half aside from one outstanding save to deny Kevin Squire when the substitute really should have scored.

Happy to sit deep and hit on the break, Combe grew as a threat. Hawkings took a booking for bringing down Langmead when the frontman got past Rob Francis.

Then a blistering burst from Lewis seemed to have created the winner for Mike Hedden yet the skipper's shot was ruled out for offside with Lewis deemed to be blocking keeper Ryan Draper's view.

"Not one person in the ground apart from the referee saw anything wrong with that goal," said Yeo.

Again the visitors were vexed with referee Lee Swabey when Ian Down caught Lewis with a late challenge, only to receive a yellow card.

Over the winter, the two clubs have turned the battle for the Toolstation League title into a North Devon affair. And their Easter Monday fixture always looked like being pivotal. In a strange way both can be reasonably satisfied with the outcome.

The Bluebirds may no longer be in the title hunt but Yeo was proud to match the champions elect with just 10 men. A point at the Sports Ground, where Combe are yet to lose since they reached the Premier Division in 2007, keeps them on course for a top-three finish.

For the Robins, disjointed despite their numerical advantage, the draw keeps them in pole position to win their first championship since 2005/06.

Following the loss at Barnstaple Town on Good Friday, avoiding a second derby defeat in four days was crucial — and Joyce praised his players for sticking to the task. With four games to go, the trophy is within their grasp.