It is a busy weekend for Exmouth Town as they continue their fight to avoid relegation from the Southern League. On Saturday, they welcome Willand Rovers, whilst on Easter Monday they travel to Mousehole, writes John Dibsdall.

Town lost the reverse fixture to their local rivals 3-1 back in August but will go into the match boosted by a superb second-half performance that saw them overcome promotion hopefuls Bemerton Heath Harlequins 3-0 and avenge a 4-0 home defeat earlier in the season.

In a first 45 minutes where both sides had half chances, Ben Steer saw one effort well saved and then, on the stroke of half time, he had looked to have beaten the offside trap, drilled the ball home but the assistant thought otherwise and the goal was ruled out.

The second half started with the home side applying pressure without really threatening the goal and, as Town grew into the game, they had the one piece of good fortune their efforts deserved. A Callum Shipton shot would probably have been saved but a wicked deflection left the ‘keeper flatfooted and the ball nestled beautifully in the back of the net.

Town then started to play free-flowing football. Good build-up play left Steer in the clear and his square pass provided Tom Bath with a tap in at the far post. After Aarron Denny had a couple of half volleys narrowly go wide, he created another chance for Bath, who lashed the ball home for number three and a convincing victory.

This result had come on the back of a disappointing result against Bideford last Tuesday. On a rain-swept evening, Town were strangely out of sorts in the first half, failed to mount any sort of challenge and fell behind to a well-taken goal in added time.

A second Bideford goal within two minutes of the restart left them with a mountain to climb but a fine 20-yard strike from Bath after 60 minutes reduced the deficit and gave them hope. As they continued to press, a Mark Lever header came back off the crossbar and a decent strike from Denny brought a good save but Bideford held on to keep alive their own hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Last Saturday, Bideford played out a 0-0 draw with Paulton Rovers, who have now gone three games unbeaten, but Town are five points clear of their Somerset rivals, who occupy bottom position but do have a game in hand.

Exeter City play on Good Friday and Easter Monday this weekend, so Exmouth Town will be running a City supporter promotion. Any Exeter City season-ticket holder, Trust member or Supporters’ Club member can get £2 off entry for this huge Devon derby against Willand Rovers.


Prices on the day: Adults £9 (City £7), O65 £7 (City £5), 16/17 Year-Olds £5 (City £3). U16s must be accompanied by an adult, NHS and Armed Forces personnel are free with ID. 

In the Southern League Premier Division, Tiverton Town gave their survival hopes a major boost with a crucial victory at home to Hanwell Town on Saturday.

In a classic six-pointer down the bottom, Tivvy knew a win would move them within a point of their visitors and, crucially, within a point of climbing out of the bottom four.

The strike partnership of Alex Fletcher and Joe Parker could make all the difference to the Yellows over the next month of decisive action and, after testing the Hanwell defence in the early stages, Tivvy grabbed the lead. River Allen created the opening with superb footwork, Fletcher laid the ball on a plate for Parker and he fired in the goal on 37 minutes.

The second period was full of tension but Parker settled home nerves with another crucial strike, again latching on to a super assist from Fletcher to steer in the winner. Two more home games this week will be vital for Tivvy.