Hockley shows the way as Bideford overcome the weather and Wimborne
Bideford extended their Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South and West unbeaten run to 18 matches on Saturday as the rest of the League programme was put on ice.
Sean Joyce's Robins profited with a 3-1 home win over second-from-bottom Wimborne Town to soar nine points clear of second-placed Hungerford Town with 12 games remaining this term.
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Bideford skipper Matt Hockley
Joyce had been keeping his fingers crossed the Sports Ground pitch would pass fit and beat the big freeze which accounted for every other game in the Southern League on Saturday, including Tiverton Town's trip to Mangotsfield United.
His wishes came true, and it did not take the Robins long to get into their stride with their skipper Matt Hockley – the former Torquay United and Truro City midfielder – firing them ahead from the penalty spot in the tenth minute, following a foul on Matt Andrew.
Andrew doubled Bideford's tally with a 15th-minute strike that beat visiting goalkeeper Jason Harvell after taking a deflection.
Wimborne reduced the deficit from a 25th-minute penalty, scored by George Webb, but the visitors' joy was short-lived as ten minutes later Bideford regained their two-goal advantage.
Ian Sampson capped the home side's best move of the game with a crisp 35th-minute finish to cap Bideford's 20th win of the season.
The Robins' next Southern League match is at third-from-bottom Abingdon United next Saturday.
In the Toolstation Western League, Owen Pickard's Barnstaple Town overtook visitors Bridport at the Premier Division basement by beating the Bees 3-0 at Mill Road in one of only three League games to beat the freeze.
Connor Clifford and Billy Tucker, with fine finishes before the half-time interval, and Kyle Bassett, with a third goal ten minutes before the end, were on target for Barum against Trevor Senior's Bridport outfit.
Elsewhere in the Western League, second-placed Willand Rovers suffered an unexpected 2-1 home defeat against Wells City, who edged above Odd Down into eighth place in the Premier Division after the Bath-based side's home game against Ilfracombe Town was postponed.
The defeat means Willand remain two points behind League leaders Bitton, who have a game in hand.
Rovers have gone five matches without a win, since beating Bridport 4-0 on January 2. Perry Carpenter scored their 87th-minute consolation goal against Wells. Jamie Howson put the Somerset side ahead after ten minutes, and Jake Brown lofted a cross into the net in the 68th minute to double the visitors' lead.
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