Exmouth Town battled to a 2-2 draw against Melksham, at a cold and wet Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

An early goal from Elliot Haffenden saw Town go behind, but Aarron Denny and Tom Bath put the hosts in front, with Robbie James earning the point for the visitors.

The game started in the worst possible fashion for Exmouth, as Mike Landricombe’s overhit back pass left Frankie Phillips scrambling, and Haffenden pounced on the ball to slot home.

With ten minutes gone, Town had a penalty shout, with Denny looking like he had been brought down by Alfie Kelsey, although the referee opted to give the corner, which saw Ben Steer pick up a booking for his protests.

The hosts would keep that momentum going, as a free-kick which was punched by the goalkeeper, fell to Karl Riddell, and his shot bounced across the goal before being cleared.

Melksham would respond quickly, with Caleb Summerfield firing against the side-netting, but it was Town that had the momentum.

That being said, Exmouth struggled to create anything more than half-chances, with Callum Shipton having a first-time effort go over the bar.

Joe Belsten followed up with a long range strike that also missed the target.

Steer had a good chance to level proceedings as he stayed strong and beat two Melksham players to the ball, although his shot was scooped over the bar.

The hosts would level before the end of the first half, when Steer burst down the wing, before setting up Denny with a good cross, which the midfielder duly slotted home.

There was a change at half-time, when Melksham’s goalkeeper was withdrawn due to injury, as Luke Ballinger took the gloves. 

With the rain starting to pour down, the quality started to dip in the game, with the first chance falling to the visitors, as Haffenden went in on goal, but got his shot all wrong as it rolled past both Phillips and the post.

With 25 minutes to go, Town had a great opportunity to go ahead, as Riddell put a teasing ball into the box, which saw Shipton get brought down to the ground, and the referee point to the spot.

Bath stepped up, and fired into the bottom corner, with stand-in goalkeeper Ballinger not moving.

The away side would come back with a chance of their own, forcing Phillips into a brilliant save, when Harry Baker was allowed too much space in the box, and his near post shot looked goalbound, until the Exeter City loanee plucked it out for a corner.

Unfortunately for Phillips, Town’s defending from the following corner saw James head into the back of the net, levelling the game up.

As the rain poured down across the Complete Infrastructure Stadium, neither side were able to break the rhythm that the game had fallen into to, as fouls and poor crosses took control of the match.

Town will look to end a poor run at home, when they welcome local rivals Tavistock next Saturday.

ATTENDANCE: 250

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Riddell (High, 79), Landricombe, Morison, Knowles, Shipton (Slater, 60), Denny, Griffith (Cutler, 79), Steer, Bath.

SUBS NOT USED: McCue.