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Axminster Town 1, Budleigh Salterton 2

Seven days after the sides had met at Greenway Lane the two teams went head-to-head at Sector Lane, writes Alan Beer.

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Budleigh fielded the same squad as had appeared the week before with the one exception.

Sam Schlaefli replaced Mark Lever who had a work commitment.

Axminster, on the other hand listed five changes, perhaps hoping to prevent The Robins taking an early three-goal lead as they had done in the Greenway Lane game!

This time it was the home side who had the opportunity to open the scoring when, in the ninth minute, Ollie Highet shot wide.

A few moments later the hosts again went close when Martyn Hancock was marginally off target.

It took 20 minutes before Budleigh finally threatened the home goal when a Brett Wright corner was headed over by Schlaefli.

After the goal less first period it was Budleigh who broke the deadlock just three

minutes into the half.

Liam Ellis crossed from the left and Mike Hancock was on the end of it to head home from six-yards. Budleigh then looked the more likely to score up to the 63rd minute when they were reduced to 10 men after Carl Everest was shown a straight red following a tackle.

The home side made the best of their numerical advantage and, when the Robins defence failed to deal with a free kick, Highet fired in a loose ball from 25-yards out.

The Robins didn’t give up and regained the lead just 10 minutes later. Wright found George Pannell with a long through ball and he calmly slotted past Matt Long.

In the final minute Budleigh had Adrian Pullin to thank when he saved a penalty taken by Alex Wheatley to ensure Budleigh left Sector Lane with al three points.

Budleigh team: Pullin, Hancock, Ellis, Everest, Pallett, Nield, Sale (Williams), Wright, Nodwell, Greenslade (Grover), Schlaefli (Pannell). Subs not used Turner, Carr.

The win, Budleigh’s 10th in 18 Eastern Division starts sees them sitting second in the table behind leaders Exmouth Town who they still have to play twice between now and early May.

On Saturday the Robins entertain a Teignmouth Town side who will pitch up at Greenway Lane sitting eighth in the table, eleven points worse off than Budleigh having also played 18 games.