Goal!

Bideford will be celebrating their Southern League Division One South and West title at their end of season presentation night at the Royal Hotel on Saturday.

Their celebrations of an outstanding season will take place alongside the annual presentation of club awards.

The title already firmly in the bag, the Robins ended their league season with only their fourth defeat in 40 games, going down 3-1 away to a Poole Town side eager to clinch the league runners-up spot.

Bideford fell behind after only seven minutes, but pulled back when Sean Downing created an opener for Steve Orchard to shoot home his first goal of the season.

The Dorsetmen went ahead again on the stroke of half-time and completed their win when Richard Groves put into his own net five minutes from the end.

The win gave Poole their second spot, 11 points behind the Robins.

With Southern League Premier League now on the agenda, Bideford would be facing a busy three months getting everything in place, said chairman Roy Portch. They were interviewing for a commercial manager and had looked at some good cadidates, he said.

The club would also be seeking sponsors and fund raising opportunities to help them with their new challenge.

Anyone interested in doing so is asked to make contact via e-mail:-info@bidefordfc.co.uk.

Meanwhile, Bideford still have one match left to play. They will be travelling tonight (Wednesday) for a friendly against a Torquay United squad.