Didcot Town pushed high-flying Bideford all the way in an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Loop Meadow on Saturday.

They showed renewed resilience, responding immediately after the visitors had taken the lead in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West game.

Bideford edged the first half-hour, with Matt Bye and Matt Andrew spurning good cha-nces.

Gradually the Railwaymen started to assert themselves and for the rest of the game looked the more likely to get all three points.

Richard Peirson thumped a shot against Bideford defender Nicky Barker in their best chance of the opening period.

Then Joss Millar should have done better, but failed to get any connection to a cross from Steve Davis with the goal at his mercy.

The second half began in a similar vein and Bideford keeper Oliver Chenowith pulled off a brilliant save to deny Alex Stanley a minute after the break.

Millar was the next Didcot player to come close when his goal-bound shot was deflected wide.

The visitors looked vulnerable from the corner, and Tom Mudge headed wide .

Against the run of play, the visitors went ahead after 65 minutes when Andrew nodded home from close range following a long-throw into the box.

The lead lasted just three minutes, Victor Asombang scoring from six yards for Didcot following Kevin Halliday’s corner which the visitors struggled to clear.

Sam Elkins saw a dipping drive fly inches wide as Didcot threw everything at the Devonians in the closing stages.

And with five minutes to go the home side thought they had earned themselves a late penalty when the assistant referee flagged for a spot-kick for a foul on Danny Seaward.

But the referee waved play-on, much to the frustration of the home supporters.

Didcot Tn: Santangelo, Elkins, Halliday, Henderson (Bayley 46), Peirson, Stanley, Millar, Mudge, Seaward, Asombang, Davis Subs not used: Bangura, Beames, Mc-Lean, Turner.

Attendance: 140.