Match Report: Exmouth Town 1-2 Bideford AFC

Two late goals saw Exmouth Town beaten 2-1 against fellow Southern League Division One South side Bideford, in their penultimate friendly.

A Tom Bath goal saw Town go ahead, and after failing to take their chances, the visitors came back through goals from Jordan Ewing and Fin Newell.

It was a competitive and cagey start between the two teams, with Exmouth’s makeshift back four limiting Bideford to shots from range, which were both saved by Matt Wonnacott.

Town would have an early chance of their own, as the ball fell nicely for Bath in the box, but the goalkeeper was level to it. 

The following corner lined up for Ethan Slater, with his header off target.

Exmouth’s opening goal was a strange one, as Ben Steer aimed for an offside Bath, but as the striker didn’t touch it, the winger flew past the confused Bideford defence before squaring to the striker, who tapped the ball home.

Wonnacott had to be lively to stop Bideford striking back, reacting well to claim the ball in a one-on-one situation.

It should have been two for Town as Aarron Denny played Bath in on goal, and he was able to cut inside before squaring to Matt Wright, with a heroic Bideford tackle stopping him from scoring.

Wright almost scored in spectacular fashion after the break, as the ball bounced up to him from around 40 yards out, and with the goalkeeper in no man’s land, his half-volley bounced over the bar.

With a centre back partnership of Ace High and Josh Cann, Town were doing well to deal with the long ball’s played in by the visitors.

Town’s resilience would be broken though, as a looped cross met the onrushing Ewing, and his diving header found the back of the net.

They would complete the turnaround with three minutes to go, as another cross found a man at the back-post, and his cushioned header set Newell up to head past Wonnacott.

It was an improved performance from Town, who will look to get back to winning ways on Tuesday against Budleigh, before their FA Cup Extra Preliminary round game against Bovey Tracey next Saturday.

Squad List: Wonnacott, Trialist, Shipton, Kraus, Knowles, High, Cann, Croft, Slater, Cairo, Denny, Cunningham, Akingbade, Bath, Wright, Steer.