PLYMOUTH Albion head into this weekend's Devon derby against Exeter Chiefs in their best form for a year after claiming a third successive league victory.

Their latest Championship triumph came at Bedford on Saturday, with wingers Liam Gibson and Ben Mercer scoring tries and teenage full-back Mark Lee kicking nine points to secure a narrow 19-16 success.

It was only Albion's second victory at Goldington Road in their history and delighted chairman of rugby Graham Dawe, who had seen his team lose on their last five trips to the former Premiership club.

"It was a rare win, but one we will gladly take," admitted Dawe. "Any win on the road is very valuable.

"To be fair we have played well at Bedford before and maybe should have won, but we will definitely take this one.

"The boys worked hard – as they have been doing for the last 16 or 17 weeks.

"We are trying to play the game as it should be played and we are trying to get a right balance. We will keep trying to do that.

"It was a good 22-man effort on Saturday, but we have to knuckle down and work hard again, because that will not be good enough this coming week."

Albion had to show great spirit to snatch the win on Saturday.

After leading from the 31st minute they found themselves behind with just six minutes to play.

But, with time running out, they hit back with a well-worked try by Mercer – his fifth of the season.

"I thought it might be game over (when they scored)," admitted Dawe. "But we showed character.

"Danny Porte did well to initiate the maul, Liam Gibson did well in the maul and Sione Tu'ipulotu was in there as well. We kept the pressure on and then Kieran (Hallett) put a good pass out to put in Ben Mercer."

Dawe added: "I thought we played well throughout.

"We made a couple of bad kicks, which gifted them field position and we let ourselves down a bit defensively.

"But you have to give Bedford credit. They are a very good team and a very determined one and they know how they want to play the game."

Dawe

(pictured above)

praised try-scoring wingers Gibson and Mercer.

"The performances of Ben Mercer and Liam Gibson were top-drawer," he said.

"Liam played very, very well. It's good to see Plymouth Albion score tries through their wingers. It's a bit like the days of Lee Robinson and Nic Sestaret.

"Tom Skelding also had another big game, as did all the forwards, but it was a squad effort."

Albion had to overcome the loss of hooker Joe Clark after less than four minutes at Goldington Road.

Clark had to go off with a calf injury and was replaced by James Owen, who has only just come back from a neck injury.

"That was a massive blow for us, but full credit to James Owen, who came on and everything clicked along nicely. James did a great job on his return," said Dawe.

"We're just glad to have a player around of his ability."