It was not a good Saturday for Exmouth’s leading sports team as Exmouth Town suffered late cup heartache to exit the FA Vase, beaten 4-3 by Cadbury Heath in a Southern Road thriller and the Cockles were once again beaten on their travels, losing their South West Premier Division game at Barnstaple 25-21.

First to the football and that Exmouth Town defeat. Town had trailed 2-0,but goals from leading scorer Ace High and Karl Rickard had honours even at half-time. An early second half goal – a second of the match from High, saw Town lead 3-0 and they held the advantage until conceding a third with just five minutes to go and a late fourth saw the Western League Premier Division side made progress.

There was some cheer for Budleigh Salterton as they won a Devon Premier game laden with goals at Acland Park, Feniton. The Robins won 6-4 to move into the last eight of the cup.

RUGBY

As for the rugby, it’s now 29 defeats in the last 32 away league fixtures for the Cockles after they went down 25-21 at Barnstaple. However, they did at least manage another losing bonus point.

In what proved to be a disappointing afternoon in North Devon for the Imperial ground men, the 2nd XV also lost, going down 33-26 to Barum 2nd XV.

There was more disappointment also for Withycombe, who went down 20-17 at home to Liskeard & Looe to leave Withy sitting second from bottom just four points better off than basement side Hayle at the foot of the Tribute Cornwall and Devon table.

FOOTBALL

Back to local football and, in other cup matches, Lympstone made progress in the Bill Slee Cup with a 3-1 win at Exeter-based Priory, but Otterton went out of the Devon Senior Cup, beaten 2-0 at D & C Auto repairs.

In terms of Macron League football, in Division Three, Budleigh Salterton Reserves shared four goals with visiting Newton St Cyres while East Budleigh win 2-1 at home to North Tawton.

In Division Five, Exmouth Spartans were beaten 3-2 at Awliscombe.

In Division Seven, Otterton Reserves were beaten 3-2 at Sidmouth Town fourths while East Budleigh Reserves went down 3-1 at Bickleigh.

In Division Eight, Lympstone Reserves beat Millwey Rise Reserves 3-0, Exmouth Town thirds went down 10-2 at home to Bradninch Villa and East Budleigh Reserves

The referee was a busy man at Horsdon Park, Tiverton, where he has to show no fewer than five red cards as Elmore defeated Teignmouth 1-0 in a Devon Premier Cup tie. However, there are bound to be repercussions for both sides from the footballing authorises after Elmore finished the game with nine players and Teignmouth with eight!