WITH 14 matches still to play, Bideford have already passed last season's points total in the Evo-Stik League Southern.

The win at Bishop's Cleeve on Saturday took them to 60 – two more than they managed in their debut campaign in first division south and west.

Including the end of last season, the Robins are on a remarkable run of just three defeats in 34 league games.

No wonder the players are playing with smiles on their faces.

Sean Joyce said: "I'm enjoying managing and watching them play this season.

"We're taking it game by game. You wouldn't know we're top of the league, we don't even mention it.

"The first incentive was to get enough points to be safe. The next incentive was to better the points we had last year.

"We just keep ticking each game off and let other teams talk about play-offs and promotion."

As the race for the title reaches the most important stage, Joyce will urge his young squad to play without pressure.

The last message in his weekly team talk is simple: "Don't forget, it's a game of football. Don't forget why you play this game. If you don't enjoy it, what are you here for?"

Joyce said: "They chase and fight and scrap – that's what young lads do."

The experience gained last term has proved vital for an unexpected promotion push.

"We were Western League players last year," said Joyce. "We are Southern League players now.

"Last year we were going to Thatcham Town, Gosport Borough and North Leigh and thinking, 'This is new, how do they play?'

"We generally know what we're up against now and we can go away with an idea of how they play and go with a game plan."

One of the few disappointments this season was the 3-1 defeat at Halesowen Town in August.

The Robins have a chance to put that right in the return game at the Sports Ground on Saturday.

Ben Wood, still struggling with a hamstring injury, will not play for at least two weeks as he looks to regain full fitness.

Aaron Harper-Penman and Nick Barker both played with knocks at Bishop's Cleeve and are expected to be fit.

Owen Pickard has admitted Barnstaple Town face a "must-win game" this weekend.

After five successive defeats in the Toolstation Western League – and eight in nine games – Barnstaple take on fellow strugglers Radstock Town on Saturday.

The Somerset side will arrive at Mill Road third from bottom of the premier-division table. But a win would see them draw level on 17 points with Barnstaple.

Pickard, the Barnstaple manager, said: "It's a huge game and has got to be approached in the right way.

"It's not a cup final but it's going to be a battle and whoever plays will be up for the challenge.

"It's a must-win game and I'm sure we have got the quality (to win), I never doubt that.

"We will be playing with an attacking formation and hopefully we will have too much for them in the final third."

Barnstaple's latest defeat came at Odd Down who ran out 3-0 winners with first-half goals from Simon Gilbert and Jamie Taylor and a late 25-yard strike by Dave Cooper.

"Odd Down are on a good little run (one defeat in 11 games)," said Pickard. "We have played two teams (Hallen and Odd Down) in the last two weeks who are pretty solid and don't give a lot away. We have lacked a little bit in those departments."

With Dan Cayford joining Bideford, Barnstaple gave a debut to Jory Cureton, a central defender who is on the books of Blue Square Bet South side Weston-super-Mare.