It was a bad day at the office for Exmouth Town, as they were deservedly beaten 3-1 by Larkhall at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Ben Griffith put Town in front in the first half, but goals from Ryan Beckinsale, Spencer Dymond-Hall and Eben Mortimer-Taylor condemned Town to defeat.

Exmouth started the early stages on the front foot, with Mike Landricombe’s header going wide of the mark.

The visitors were able to respond quickly, and should have opened the scoring, as a scramble in the box from a corner saw the ball break to a Larkhall man, and his shot forced a superb save out of Frankie Phillips.

It would be quiet up until the 24th minute, when the ball came up in the air to Tom Bath, whose flick-on played Griffith through on goal, and he smashed the ball over the goalkeeper to put Town in front.

Unfortunately, that was the best it got for the hosts, who fell asleep straight from the kick off, and were almost punished minutes later, as Phillips bailed Exmouth out once again, denying the away side from instantly levelling.

Callum Shipton almost added to his recently opened goal tally, but his curling effort was just past the post.

The visitors would get the goal their performance deserved just before half time, as Harvey Pritchard got the better of Louis Morison, and played in Beckinsale, who coolly finished past the Town goalkeeper.

The second half got off to a cagey start, with neither side able to make much happen.

Jake Llewellyn made in important block before the hour mark, as Beckinsale was allowed slightly too much space outside of the box.

Town would have a corner that fell to Morison, but the defender’s effort was over the bar.

A miscommunication in the home defence saw Pritchard presented with a golden chance, with Phillips being on hand to ensure it was not converted.

Exmouth, who were doing more defending in the second half, threatened on the break as Shipton won the ball in midfield, before laying off Bath, but the striker’s effort was saved by Adam Forster.

With 74 minutes gone, Dymond-Hall picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, and unleashed a superb low strike, which flew into the bottom left corner, leaving Phillips no chance.

It would go from bad to worse just two minutes later, as Mortimer-Taylor was allowed through on goal, and the attacker would slot his effort under the Exeter City loanee to seal the victory for the Larks.

Exmouth would have a huge chance to get one back, as Bath was found completely unmarked in the box, but his close range header struck the crossbar and bounced out.

Phillips was provided with one more test in stoppage time, as Evrard Yao burst into the box, but the young stopper got down well to deny him.

It was a poor display from Town, but they have no time to dwell on it as they welcome Willand Rovers to the Complete Infrastructure Stadium on Wednesday evening (KO 7:45pm).

ATTENDANCE: 375

LINE-UP: Phillips, Thorne (Iseguan, 52), Llewellyn (Cann, 73), Morison, Landricombe, Knowles, Shipton, Belsten, McCue (High, 52), Bath, Griffiths.

SUBS NOT USED: Riddell, Denny.