Ace High made the difference for Exmouth Town as they battled back from 2-1 down to earn a 3-2 win at the Mettal Stadium against Thatcham Town.

Alfie Bridgman gave the hosts an early lead, but Ben Griffith’s goal cancelled that out, before Shamar Moore won and converted a penalty to send the Kingfishers into half time in front.

Tom Bath levelled the game up after getting on the end of a High cross, and the substitute got the goal he deserved to win the game for Town.

It was a poor start for Exmouth, who found themselves one down after just six minutes, when Sam Tanner’s cross found Moore, whose shot rebounded into the path of Bridgman, who tapped home from close range.

Town would look to find an equaliser, and had their first chance through a free-kick, which found the head of Joe Belsten, who diverted his header wide.

The visitors would find the back of the net, after a long ball found the head of Nelson Iseguan, and he rose brilliantly to find Griffith and hit a superb first time effort into the bottom corner. 

Bridgman almost got his second of the game, as he was allowed to much space in the box before firing wide.

Exmouth never really got going the first half, and once again failed to capitalise on scoring an equaliser as nothing looked to stick in any attacking areas.

They were punished just before the half hour mark, when Moore burst through on goal and collided with Frankie Phillips, and the referee adjudged it to have been a foul.

Moore, who provided a real threat throughout the game, duly converted his spot-kick, sending the Exeter City loanee the wrong way.

Harry Thorpe was next to come close, forcing Phillips into action, but he was level to the shot.

Mike Landricombe had to react fast to ensure it was not 3-1 before the break, as his interception stopped the ball falling to Moore in the box.

Karl Riddell almost gave Town an equaliser against the run of play, with the centre-back rising highest from a corner, but his header was wide of the mark.

After a slow start to the second half, Exmouth started to work their way into the game, with High going on a Gareth Bale-esque run before his cross almost found Tom Bath, but he jumped a little too early.

Those two would link up to get the equaliser, as High put in a great ball which just missed Nelson Iseguan, before finding Bath, who took his time before slotting it past Callum Smart.

The game would find itself played in the midfield for the next ten minutes, with both teams threatening to create but not finding anything of note.

Joe Belsten made a vital interception as a cross looked destined to find Kyle Daniel Spray, with the full back diving in front of the winger to prevent a chance.

The right-back would then put a corner into the box, which was kept in by Landricombe, and his header landed into the path of High, who headed home to make it 140 goals for Exmouth, and more importantly get three points for the visitors.

Thatcham would have one more big chance on goal, with Belsten making a superb block as Moore’s shot looked goal-bound.

Despite bringing on Andy Matthews, who looked around seven foot tall, Exmouth held firm to earn a much needed win to kickstart a busy schedule.

They almost made it 4-2, as Callum Shipton almost added to his catalogue of rare but spectacular goals, having caught Smart off his line, with the crossbar denying him.

Exmouth showed real resilience to come away from Berkshire with all three points, and will look to take that into Wednesday’s game against promotion contenders Mousehole, at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

LINE-UP: Phillips, Cann, Belsten, Landricombe, Riddell, Knowles, Denny (High, 45), Shipton, Iseguan, Griffith, Bath (Haynes, 88).

SUBS NOT USED: McCue, Slater.