A controversial late winner from Finley Rooke saw Exmouth Town beaten 2-1 at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium by Willand Rovers.

In a game where the visitors missed two penalties, Phillip Da Silva Mendonca put Rovers in front, before Joe Belsten levelled the game in the second half.

Neither side got going in the first 15, with Nelson Iseguan and Jacob Wellington looking to make things happen, but both were unable to get a clear shot on goal.

Phillip Da Silva Mendonca had the first effort on target from range, as his long-range strike was straight at Frankie Phillips.

The Willand man found himself through on goal, and when Phillips denied him by closing him down, the ball fell to Ashton Hewitt, and he was brought down in the box, leading to a penalty for the visitors.

Rooke stepped up, and blasted the ball over the bar, giving Town an early let-off.

Exmouth’s first big chance came at the half hour mark, although it was not of their own doing, as a corner was deflected towards goal by a Willand man, and subsequently cleared off the line.

Town did put another effort on goal moments later, as Iseguan played the ball to Callum Shipton, who laid it to Ace High, and after his first cross was blocked, his header found Iseguan, who couldn’t direct his headed effort away from George Burton.

Willand would go ahead from the next attack, as Exmouth failed to clear their lines from a corner and Mendonca took advantage to bundle the ball home.

It was a poor first half from Town, who struggled to keep the ball and generate any real chances.

They started the second slightly stronger, Ben Griffith having a shot that flew over the bar from range.

Willand had a free kick from a decent position, although River Allen’s scooped effort left those that had come up for the set-piece frustrated.

With 64 minutes gone, Exmouth started to look a bit brighter, as good pressure from Bath and Shipton saw the latter win the ball and slip through the former, and despite being crowded by defenders, the striker found the space to shoot, with Burton being level to it.

Louis Morison was called into action as Mendonca looked set to make it two, with the defender sliding in just as he looked to have taken it around Phillips.

Similar to the first goal, it was soon after a chance that Town would find an equaliser, as Burton failed to clear a cross and it fell at the feet of Belsten, who fired it into the back of the net from just outside the box.

Unfortunately, Exmouth would not use that mometum well, and gave away a second penalty as Phillips brought a Willand attacker down.

Luckily for the hosts, Allen recreated Rooke’s earlier penalty, sending it over the bar.

The game looked to be fizzling out, as neither side particularly looked like finding the back of the net.

Exmouth would have a shout for a penalty of their own, as a Freddie Haden cross looked set to find Tom Bath, and he was brought down, although the ball did find Iseguan, who blazed over, which led to a goal-kick.

It would be Willand who won the game late, Town struggled to clear another set-piece, and it fell to Rooke, who headed towards goal, and his effort was adjudged to have crossed the line before Iseguan cleared the ball.

Protests followed, and after a discussion with the linesman, the goal was given.

A tough one to take for Town, who would also struggle to say that they deserved anything from the game. 

Exmouth will need to be better on Saturday, when they welcome Cinderford Town to the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

ATTENDANCE: 277

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Cann (Thorne, 66), Morison, Landricombe, Knowles (Haden, 75), Shipton, Griffith, High (Denny, 60), Iseguan, Bath.

SUBS NOT USED: Rowe, McCue.