A gutsy performance from the Seagulls was enough to take three points back to the Sid Valley and ease the tension just a bit, especially when the news came through that Upottery and Halwill had dropped points.

A gutsy performance from the Seagulls was enough to take three points back to the Sid Valley and ease the tension just a bit, especially when the news came through that Upottery and Halwill had dropped points.Almost every game left has got to see Sidbury take maximum points as four teams chase the two remaining promotion places, with Bow as good as champions, which only leaves Honiton as the other challenger.Both sides began this game brightly with Barnstaple looking like a much better outfit than when they came to Byes Lane earlier in the season,Matt Rasmussen opened the scoring when he struck from 18 yards. Dan Churchill had a golden opportunity to double the lead but blasted over from eight yards, and there weren't that many more chances created by either side until Barnstaple struck with five minutes of the first half remaining.The second half was just as tight but you could sense that Dan Norman, who plugged away all afternoon, was beginning to impose himself alongside Steve Popham in the centre of midfield.Matt Channing, on his return to the club, was causing problems on the right hand side of midfield but it was Churchill who stole the show following a neat pass from skipper Russ Coombs. He moved onto the ball and, instead of blasting it from six yards out, he neatly tucked it into the corner of the net. Barnstaple put Sidbury under enormous pressure with 10 minutes to go but this time they held out for a well earned and just about deserved three points.Manager Mel Coombs said: "There were some solid displays from some of the players today, none more so than Ben Woolley, who, along with Ben Clay, Richard Bacon and Pete Godbeer, remained resilient right to the end. So often this season we have thrown two points away when we just haven't been able to hold onto slender leads. That's 14 league games unbeaten since early October. If we can keep up this determination we might just be in for an exciting end to the season."Star man was Dan Churchill. Ben Clay also voted Player of the Month for January and February combined.Squad: J Burgess, B Clay, R Bacon, P Godbere, B Woolley, D Churchill, S Popham, D Norman, M Channing, R Coombs, M Rasmussen. Subs used, M Hadley, J Margrett, sub not used M Pidgeon.This Saturday Sidbury travel to Lympstone, then to Morchard Bishop on Sunday for their semi-final of the Bill Slee Cup, kick-offs 3pm and 2.30pm respectively.Sidbury Utd Res beat Exmouth Amateurs 3-1. There were two more goals for Johnny Beer and a cracker from Kevin Dorman which was enough to see off an Exmouth side that put up a gallant display. With only two games remaining of the season, a mid table position would be an excellent achievement for the Sidbury Reserve team's first adventure into senior football.Pictures by Simon Horn.