Exmouth Town stroll to midweek victory

Exmouth stretched their unbeaten league run to six games with a 3-0 thrashing of Stoke Gabriel on Wednesday evening.

The Southern Road side dominated throughout and had sufficient chances to score at least half a dozen, as well as keeping their third clean sheet on the bounce.

It took just four minutes for the hosts to open the scoring as they controlled the opening exchanges. Shortly after a couple of Dan Boere blasts were saved well by the Railwaymen’s keeper, who then gifted a chance to Alex Greening but his shot again could not beat the stranded goalie.

Several other chances found their way wide or tall of the target, and Stoke Gabriel began to produce openings towards the end of the half. Former Plymouth Argyle star Mark Saunders was key in the home side’s defence to prevent possible equalising opportunities.

Exmouth put the game virtually to bed on the hour mark thanks to Jamie Moore’s top class strike from 35 yards to double the lead.

And the introduction of a couple of forward subs – including temporary returnee Lloyd Gardner – saw the hosts create yet more attacking threat.

The scoresheet was completed just seconds before the final whistle, as Matt Dawson charged into the box and past two defenders to smash Town’s deserved third in the net.

The fact that a decent side in Stoke Gabriel put their all in but were still comprehensively beaten will be very encouraging for gaffer Richard Pears and his team.

Another three points edges Exmouth further up the SWPL Premier table at this early stage on the path to earning promotion for a second season following the FA’s declination last year.

Town travel to Callington this Saturday, and their next home game comes on Wednesday 24th September when they host Tiverton side Elmore. Another fixture on the horizon falls on the 28th October when League Two Plymouth Argyle visit Southern Road for the Devon Bowl 2nd Round tie.

Argyle are known to field a majority of first team players in a competition which they respect. Exmouth will take confidence from last year’s trip to St James Park where they stunned Exeter City by taking an early lead and holding at 2-2 until the closing stages.