Exmouth Town maintained their unbeaten start to 2025 with a big, 4-1 win at home to Didcot Town at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Striker Tom Bath added another two goals to his tally for the season, with skipper Mike Landricombe and Callum Shipton chipping in with the other two goals, in what was an overall excellent team performance. 

It was a strong start for Didcot, the men in green dominated possession early on and forced three good saves out of Exmouth keeper Frankie Phillips. In particular it was the wide men Connor Barrett and Daniel Warre who were providing the attacking threat for the visitors.  

Throughout the early stages of the first half there was sloppy possession play from Exmouth, and Phillips was definitely the busier of the two keepers.   

Exmouth grew back into the game, earning corner after corner, and eventually Town capitalised on Joe Belsten cross, and Tom Bath headed home 29 minutes in.  

Callum Shipton ran the game throughout the first half, and 36 minutes in, after good combinations with Belsten, the number 8 headed home from the centre of the box following a Tor Swann cross.  

Before long Didcot had pulled one back, Samuel Barder lifted a good ball into the box which Daniel Warre bought down towards the right-hand side of the goal. He turned and fired low leaving Phillips with no chance, meaning there was plenty to play for in the second half. 

Tom Bath almost eased any nerves before half time, with a good volley from outside the box wide of the left-hand post.  

Following a good cross from a corner and the ball bouncing around in the box Bath had an effort saved off the line.  

From the next corner, won following the clearance from Bath, skipper Landricombe scored a good header inside the six-yard box.  

A silky move down the left-hand side saw Swann lay the ball off for Ben Steer, who hit a good shot towards goal with the ball finding the head of Bath and in it went for Town’s fourth.  

Connor McGrath of Didcot was booked not long after Bath’s second after a risky challenge on Tor Swann, who was in on goal.  

Luke Steer (no relation to Ben) came on in the 74 minute to make his debut for Exmouth. The debutant certainly made an impression, with some good moments on the ball not long into his game.  

Exmouth continued to dominate the game, with a Tom Bath being squared the ball in the box but firing the ball straight at keeper Leigh Bedwell. The chances kept on coming for Bath, another effort from a corner cleared off the line.  

Exmouth Town are back in action next week against Shaftesbury as they look to continue our unbeaten run.  

Line-up: Phillips, Cann, Belsten, Knowles, Morison, Landricombe, Swann (Luke Steer, 66’), Griffin (Ethan Slater 74’), Bath, Shipton, Steer (Ace High, 66’) 

Subs not used: Rowe, Hill 

Match report written by Benjy Sainsbury