An early Tom Bath goal was the difference as Exmouth Town battled to a 1-0 win at Platinum Hyundai Park, against Westbury United.

In a low-quality affair, Town dug deep to earn all three points, making it four away clean sheets in a row in the process.

The first chance and deciding moment fell to Town after ten minutes, as Nelson Iseguan was set through on goal, with his shot being well saved by Redmen Evans, but falling straight into the path of Bath, who made no mistake from close range.

Both teams struggled to create anything of note after the goal, with Joe Beardwell having a long shot that cleared the stadium the best chance of the next period.

There were plenty of offsides in the first half, with each side looking to break the last line of defence, to no avail.

Ollie Knowles took aim from long range after Ben Griffith had a shot blocked, but his effort was easy for the goalkeeper to collect.

With half an hour gone, Bath almost got his second of the game, but in the wrong goal, as he almost diverted a Westbury corner past Frankie Phillips, the ball going just wide of the net.

Exmouth thought they had a penalty with five minutes until half time, as Louis Morison was brought down in the box following a free-kick, but an offside was given instead of a spot-kick.

Town got off to a strong start in the second half, with Tom Bath intercepting a soft back pass, although Westbury recovered well, and Griffith’s header was straight at Evans.

The White Horse Men were trying to play out from the back, and the visitors were having success with their press, although they were struggling to form any real chances on goal.

Westbury would find space out wide, but Town’s strong defensive shape allowed for them to deal with any crosses, as Frankie Phillips winning plenty in the air.

Bath’s pressure was paying off, and the striker gave himself a good chance to get a brace, however he took too long on the ball and the hosts recovered to win the ball back.

Westbury had a great chance to equalise, as a corner led to Ryan Bole having a shot blocked just ahead of the goal-line, with bodies flying around to prevent anything going in the back of the net.

It was all the home side in the closing exchanges, and they had a golden chance to send Town back with just a point, as a free-kick was flicked into the path of Beardwell, but his header struck the outside of the post and eventually it was cleared.

This was not a great footballing display from Town, but the spirit and resilience to fight for the three points was clear to see from a team that have now levelled their points tally from the whole of last season.

It is a double header at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium, as they welcome Willand Rovers on Wednesday, and Cinderford on Saturday.

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Cann, Morison, Landricombe, Knowles, Shipton, Griffith, McCue (High, 73), Iseguan, Bath (Haden, 82).

SUBS NOT USED: Rowe, Thorne, Denny.