Finn Roberts’ 90th minute penalty earned the Robins a share of the spoils at Bickland Park and it could even have been better had Javan Wright not been kept out deep into added time.

The opening exchanges between the sides were fairly guarded after Oscar Massey dragged a first minute shot well wide of the post. Louie Slough headed into the side netting from a Jack Winsor corner before the hosts began to threaten.

Slough made a great block to deny Jack Webber a certain goal with the rebound being fired over the crossbar.

There was little Bideford could do to prevent Falmouth taking the lead though as Luke Barner executed a brilliant free kick, curled over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

It was 2-0 on 36 minutes as a swift Town attack ended with Barner driving into the box and shooting low past Semmens into the bottom corner.

Bideford responded with Winsor bursting through a sea of yellow shirts to fire just wide of the post, and Archie Reay attempting a lob from all of 30 yards with Morgan Coxhead off his line but the ball just cleared the crossbar.

Falmouth came out after the break looking for a third as Semmens had to make two important saves early in the half. It seemed to awaken Bideford who got themselves back into the game on 59 minutes.

Ryan Turner latched onto a long ball forward and held off the challenge of a couple of defenders before firing into the net from 20 yards with the aid of a deflection.

The last thing Bideford needed was to concede right after getting back into the game, but that’s exactly what they did as Massey was allowed too much space to cut in from the left and make it 3-1.

It appeared to be game over on 64 minutes as Barner was sent through on goal to slot low past Semmens and complete his hat trick, but Bideford had other ideas.

To their credit, the Robins began to rally after the introduction of Brad Williams, Farren Simons and later Sam Lord. Williams struck a shot just off target before Slough headed in from close range in the 74th minute, his first of the campaign.

Bideford were now forcing Town back and applying pressure as Coxhead struggled to punch away a dangerous Roberts ball into the box but the Falmouth keeper was up quickly to save at the feet of Javan Wright.

Javan then turned provider after good work down the right allowed him to lay the ball across for Lord who was denied a debut goal by a defender’s outstretched leg.

Slough pulled Bideford back to within one with a cracking finish on the volley, his second of the night, with the tide now fully turned in the Devon side’s favour.

Less than three minutes after Slough’s strike, Bideford were awarded a penalty as Williams was pulled down in the box. Making light of the pressure, Roberts stepped up to smash the spot kick into the top corner and complete the unlikely comeback.

Not satisfied with the point, Bideford might’ve taken all three as they continued to attack with Javan Wright thwarted by a last-ditch challenge at the death.

Bideford: Semmens, Byrne, Gardner, Slough, Field, J Wright, Moyse (Lord 77), Reay (Williams 63), Roberts, Winsor, Turner (Simons 63). Sub not used: Taylor.

Goals
Falmouth: Barner 27, 36, 64, Massey 61
Bideford: Turner 59, Slough 74, 87, Roberts 90 pen

Attendance: 230