Exmouth Town are looking forward to the start of their Toolstation Western League campaign as they welcome Clevedon Town to Southern Road on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
With the enforced curtailment of the last two seasons, Town have not met their opponents since returning to the Western League their last meetings being in the 1992/3 season.
Last season, Clevedon’s playing record was p13 w7 d3 l3, level on points with Town (24) but having played two games more. Their last competitive match was in April when they lost 2-1 to Plymouth Parkway in the fourth round of the FA Vase.
Town will start their campaign looking to build on their third place finish last season (Clevedon were fourth) and have had a relatively successful pre-season. Their latest results are a 1-1 draw with Bideford, Dean Billingsley on the scoresheet and a Ben Steer goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Okehampton Argyle in front of another healthy crowd of 134.
With last year’s squad being retained ,it has been strengthened by the return of James Richards and the signing of Josh Cann, who brings with him Southern League experience with Yate Town and Paulton Rovers.
Plymouth Parkway having been promoted to the Southern League and Bradford Town among six clubs that have been moved sideways into the Hellenic League, with a number of clubs will be eyeing top spot when the season finishes next May.
From the newly promoted Cornish contingent it will be interesting to see who will be best equipped, not just to win their home games but also who fares best on the road and copes with the additional traveling. Saltash United, always difficult to beat at their Kimberley Stadium, may claim top dog in Cornwall having less miles to travel.
Our Devon rivals Tavistock will be want to be in the mix at the business end of the season and have made several signings, as have Buckland Athletic, and Ilfracombe Town will relish a return to Western League football.
On Wednesday evening (August 4), Town travel to Street where they won 4-3 and 2-1 in the past two seasons and then next Saturday (August 7) their journey in this year’s FA Cup starts with a visit to Devon rivals Buckland Athletic.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here