Exmouth Town are in FA Trophy action this Saturday when they travel to Kidlington for a second qualifying round match where the winners will receive £2250 and the losers £575, writes John Dibsdall.

Their hosts are based north of Oxford and play in the Division One Central of the Southern League, similar level to Town.

It will be a welcome distraction from Exmouth’s league programme, where they now find themselves in a relegation position following a 3-1 defeat at local rivals Willand Rovers.

For 20 minutes, Town were by far the better side. Aarron Denny had a strong shot saved and Levi Landricombe rounded the ‘keeper but was forced wide and his pass was cut out.

The goal Town deserved came when Landricombe fired home from a partially cleared corner. As Willand came more into the game their attacks caused little problem until an awful defensive mix up gifted them the equaliser after 32 minutes.

The game became stop-start until the stroke of half time, when a soft challenge was deemed worthy of a yellow card and a penalty, which was duly converted.

The second half saw Willand take control and they extended their lead when awarded another penalty on 64 minutes, scored again by Owen Howe to complete his hat-trick.

After Ace High was sent off on 75 minutes for receiving a second yellow card, Town played their best football of the half with Denny more prominent and Dene Billingsley almost forcing the ball home but it was not to be and Town slipped to their third straight league defeat.

Town were never outplayed in this game and you could argue that refereeing decisions didn’t go their way but all too often players seem to need that extra touch thereby either failing to make the decisive pass or allowing defenders time to recover.

Town are back in League action next Wednesday (September 27), when Salisbury-based Bemerton Heath Harlequins are the visitors, kick off 7.45pm.

Exmouth Town will be running a supporters coach to Kidlington in the FA Trophy on Saturday, departing at 10am, and also for the league game at Bishops Cleeve on September 30, departing 10.30am. Cost for each trip is £20, please contact Elaine Field on 07759 184876.