Exmouth Town fans have had to endure a roller coaster ride this past week but their eyes are smiling as the “never say die” attitude of the players and management have seen them climb to second in their Southern League Division One South table.

Against Mousehole last Wednesday Town were second best for the majority of the game. They went a goal down after seven minutes, saw their visitors hit the crossbar twice, miss glaring opportunities to increase their lead and were indebted to an inspired performance by their young ‘keeper Frankie Phillips.

Having failed to muster a worthwhile attempt on goal they were still just a solitary goal down as the game went into four minutes of added time. Two minutes later and the home fans erupted as a cross from substitute Isaac McCue was met by fellow sub Ethan Slater who scrambled the ball home at the far post to earn Town what may prove to be a precious point.

Town made their first visit to Didcot Town on Saturday to face a side that had won four and drawn one of their home league games losing just the once, 1-0, to league leaders Yate Town.

Missing nine of their regular squad players it was understandable that Town would adopt a more defensive attitude and whilst they failed to create much going forward their defiance and resilience in defence equally restricted their hosts. Apart from one excellent save Phillips was largely untroubled and the best chance for Didcot came with three minutes remaining but they failed to hit the target.

With the clock running down cometh the hour cometh the man. Making his 200th appearance for Town Callum Shipton characteristically chased what seemed to be a lost cause, won the ball and was brought down for Tom Bath to emphatically convert the resulting penalty. Four minutes into added time Ben Griffith and Bath combined to set up McCue to add icing on the cake.

Town will be hoping to have kept that spirit and resilience going when they travelled to Bashley on Tuesday evening and then this Saturday they host Shaftesbury. The Dorset side won promotion from the Wessex League this season and whilst they have struggled to adapt to life in the higher league they did beat Cinderford Town last Saturday 4-1. They have also beaten Bemerton Heath by a similar scoreline and drawn with Bashley, Helston and Malvern.

They will also have fond memories of their previous visit to Town when they won 2-1 after extra time in an FA Cup replay in 2017.