A first-half goal from Joe Smith made all the difference as Exmouth Town were beaten 1-0 by Bemerton Heath Harlequins at the A-Class Arena.

In a scrappy game, littered with yellow cards, Town were reduced to ten-men in the second half, when Louis Morison picked up a second yellow card, which was soon followed up with a Kevin Hill red card.

Exmouth started the game on the front foot, with Ben Griffith intercepting the ball in the Bemerton half, although his shot was over the bar.

Town remained on the front foot, but the hosts began to grow into the game, picking up free-kicks in decent areas.

They would take advantage of this, as a Bradley Waters set-piece, was directed into the path of an unmarked Smith, and he made no mistake from close range.

The game was stop and start, with the goal-scorer picking up an unfortunate injury that forced him to be subbed off.

Set-pieces would continue to be the main threat for the hosts, as an Olly Balmer corner caught Frankie Phillips off-guard, although the goalkeeper recovered to produce a superb save.

Patrick Jenkins came close to extending their lead, as he cut in on his right foot and fired a shot that looked destined for the top corner, until Phillips rose high to tip past the post.

Town had their first real chance just before the break, as Ollie Knowles had a free-kick from 20 yards-out strike the wall, which led to loud appeals from the visitors over a handball.

Not to be deterred, the following corner was sent into a rising Tom Bath, whose header struck the crossbar.

Despite the strong end to the half, it was the hosts who got off to the better start, as a Balmer free-kick once again forced Phillips into action, and another great save.

That was as exciting as the second half got in regards to action on the pitch, with neither side able to put anything of note together.

Exmouth found themselves reduced to ten men with 20 minutes to go, as Morison picked up a second yellow card for a foul during a Bemerton counter-attack.

Kevin Hill was next to be sent off, after remonstrating with the linesman and referee one too many times.

Exmouth would push for an equaliser, as Ben Steer fired a shot wide from the edge of the box, but they were unable to muster up any real chances on goal.

Town will need to dust themselves down and go again, as they host play-off chasing Bishops Cleeve at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium, who can overtake Town with a win next Saturday.

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Cann (B.Steer, 68), Landricombe, Morison, Knowles, L.Steer (Thorne, 85), Shipton, Griffith (Denny, 73), Swann (High, 85), Bath.

SUBS NOT USED: Rowe.