Ilfracombe Town lose to Winterbourne United in Toolstation Western League
Ilfracombe Town slipped into the bottom four in the Toolstation Western League premier division after a 2-0 home defeat to Winterbourne United.
With only one win in their last five games, Ilfracombe looked a team struggling to find form.
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Ryan Turner had a header tipped over the bar in the first half of Ilfracombe Town's defeat to Winterbourne United
A couple of lapses in defence proved costly as Winterbourne struck a goal in each half to move above their hosts.
Ilfracombe made a decent start on a Marlborough Park pitch that was a credit to the hard work put in by the club's volunteers during the bad weather.
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Winterbourne goalkeeper Tom Sheppard tipped over a header from Ryan Turner and pushed a snap shot by Lee Francis wide, while defender Billy Moore deflected a Shaun Lewis cross just wide of his own goal.
But the visitors were playing some neat football in Ilfracombe's half and there was a warning in the 27th minute when Jack Pitcher was allowed a free header from Ben Dowdell's left-wing cross but glanced his effort wide.
Three minutes later, Winterbourne took the lead when Ashley McGrane was left in space from a crossfield ball and, after a superb first touch, shot past Jimmy Thorne, deputising for Steve Oliver in the Ilfracombe goal.
James Mainstone shot just wide of Thorne's near post shortly before half time and then saw the keeper block another effort three minutes after the break.
Dowdell put a free kick just over before Winterbourne's second goal came in the 65th minute.
Stan Paxton, playing in the centre of the Ilfracombe defence, failed to deal with a hopeful ball down the left channel and Pitcher seized on the opportunity, finishing well.
A third Winterbourne goal looked more likely than a first for Ilfracombe as Sam Sarre stabbed a shot just wide, Pitcher put a square ball just behind Dowdell in front of an open goal and Thorne pushed over a curling effort from Mainstone.
It was not until 12 minutes from time that Ilfracombe began to trouble the Winterbourne defence again, but Sheppard made a good double save from Paxton and Francis.
The number of games Ilfracombe have in hand – as many as six on some teams – will give them hope they can climb away from any threat of relegation.
But Tuesday night's match at second-from-bottom Wells City looks crucial, as a win for the home side would put them within a point of Combe.
Then, on Good Friday, Ilfracombe host Barnstaple Town, whose match at Odd Down today was postponed.
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