It was a dissapointing day for Exmouth Town as they were sent out of the FA Trophy in the second qualifying round, after losing 2-1 at home to Horndean.

It was a flat display at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium, as Tom Bath’s penalty was in between goals from Waledin Ahmad and Rudi Blankson.

Town had the first chance of the game, as a corner would be met by the head of Louis Morison, but his effort was over the bar.

Horndean had their first foray forward, with Zachary Willett getting clear of his man, before putting his effort straight at Frankie Phillips.

Exmouth had a great chance to go ahead after 18 minutes, as Ben Griffith found Nelson Iseguan, who done well to lay it across to an unmarked Bath, but he sliced his effort wide of the goal.

Morison was called into action as the Deans broke through the Town midfield, with the centre-back making an important challenge in the box.

The visitors would go ahead minutes later, as Ahmad’s run was unnoticed by Exmouth and he was played in on goal before finishing coolly past Phillips.

After a bit more away pressure, Town started to grow into the game and find a rhythm going forwards.

This was rewarded just after the half hour mark, with Aarron Denny bursting through on goal, only to be taken down by Kyle Bailey to leave the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

Bath would step up to take, and dispatch his penalty into the bottom left corner.

The hosts would almost go into the break 2-1 in front, as Callum Shipton was left unmarked at the edge of the box, but his shot forced a fantastic save from Lloyd Thomas.

Unfortunately for Town, the momentum would completely swing moments into the second half, as Blankson went into the Exmouth box unchallenged, and fired past Phillips.

Bath would come close to levelling, with his header drifting towards goal, but a Horndean man was there to clear off the line.

When the visitors attack, it was a little too easy for them to find space in the Exmouth half, and this was shown when Daniel Sibley was allowed through on goal, with Phillips forced into a good save.

Town struggled to put many chances together in the second half, with Denny getting a volley from outside the box, but causing no trouble for Thomas.

Exmouth’s best chance to take the game to penalties came in the 86th minute, when a corner met the unmarked Morison, however his header was straight at a grateful Thomas.

The hosts did have the ball in the back of the net in the 90th minute, however it was very clear that Ace High had handballed it in the build up to the chance.

Phillips was forced into action one more time before the game’s end, with Blankson going through on goal, but the Exeter City loanee was once again level with the effort.

Exmouth will look to pick themselves up on Wednesday, as they welcome Tavistock to the Complete Infrastructure Stadium in the Devon Bowl.

ATTENDANCE: 233

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Llewellyn (Cann, 75), Morison, Landricombe, Williams (Thorne, 75), Shipton, Denny, Iseguan (McCue, 75), Bath, Griffith (High, 61).

SUBS NOT USED: Riddell