Hosts Suffer Late Heartbreak - Cribbs vs. Bideford Town

Stunning setting at The Lawns

The problem with visiting so grounds is that when it comes round to the cup competitions, seeing a game at new ground becomes more difficult. An initial look at the draw didn't throw up any obvious candidates but then when I saw Cribbs were at home and having never visited Bristol before it became the front runner. Cribbs were formally were the team of Sun Life Insurance / AXA and the name comes from the Cribbs Causeway area that ground is located adjacent to. Their opponents, Bideford were from the division above and I had great memories of staying in Appledore as a child which is a short drive away. Both teams had bad results in midweek with Cribbs losing six nil at home to Bitton while Bideford lost three nil at Frome Town.

Fantastic rural backdrop at kick off

 There is a tentative start to the game as you'd expect after the midweek results and the two teams exchange corners early on. Cribbs are almost in on goal when the Bideford keeper gets caught in two minds but his defenders bail him out. The visitors then come close with a well hit shot from the edge of the box that the Cribbs goalie does well to save. Another Cribbs corner sees a diving header at the near post go just over the bar as the home side have a decent spell. Just before half time comes the best chance of the game so far. The Bideford forward is found all alone in the six yard box but the header goes harmlessly over the bar.

Bideford defending in the first half

 Cribbs should really take the lead at the start of the second half as the winger gets in behind in the defence, his pull back finds its target who then drags his shot wide. They continue to create chances, this time the ball is lashed over under very little pressure from the Bideford defence. When they do find the target the Bideford keeper is equal to it as he produces a great save. Then of course the sucker punch arrives. In the closing stages a Bideford header from a deep free kick hits the bar and the Bideford player is there to force the ball in from close range.

The Cribbs keeper making a low save at the clubhouse end

Trains to Bristol Temple Meads take just over an hour and a half from Paddington with their being two trains an hour. I don't think I gave myself enough time to do Bristol enough justice in the couple of hours I had before I took the bus but it is a great city. What did manage do however is find three great pubs close to the station. Firstly was the craft beer rich Left Handed Giant Brewpub that provides an extensive selection of craft beers. If you fancy a more ale dominated pub then the well hidden Seven Stars had eight hand pulleds on. Finally if you want a quirky ale pubs then The Cornubia is fantastic and all three are within five minutes of the station. The pubs are all very close to the stop where I took the number one bus through the city centre to a short walk from the ground. With traffic and driver changes this takes around forty minutes. The ground looks a picture in the rural edge of Bristol and the clubhouse had BT Sports for the early kick off and a real bargain of two great rolls for a pound. An awesome first ever trip to Bristol, I'll absolutely be coming back.

Majority of fans enjoying the shade