A poor second half saw Exmouth Town beaten 2-0 at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium by fellow play-off hopefuls Bishops Cleeve.

Goals from Jay Malshanskyj and Ross Langworthy mean that the visitors overtake Town in the Southern League Division One South.

Ollie Knowles had the first attempt of the game, with a free-kick from 30 yards out being easily saved by Lewis Clayton.

Town were the slightly better team in the early exchanges, with Tom Bath finding Luke Steer out wide, and his cross was met by Jack Thorne, but he couldn’t divert the header goalwards.

It was not a first half full of action, with neither side able to breach each other’s backline.

Ben Griffith was next to put a shot towards the goal, with his long-range strike flying over the bar.

The visitors would be a threat on the break, with Knowles having to track back to stop a clear chance on goal.

Exmouth would have two good chances in two minutes, as a great block saw Griffith denied from close range, before Mike Landricombe was found unmarked at the back post, with his volley bouncing over the bar.

After a tame first half, the Mitres came out of the blocks flying, with Langworthy being played in behind, and Joe Belsten making an important recovery. 

The following corner would be won by Bishops Cleeve, but Knowles was able to get a block to it.

A familiar lull in the game was broken by the opening goal, as Malshanskyj was allowed through on goal, and despite pressure on him from Landricombe, the forward did well to fire his shot past Phillips.

Griffith would once again look to force some life into the Town attack, taking the ball down and getting past his man, but the shot was easy for Clayton.

Langworthy would do similar, and Phillips would respond with the sort of stop that has become a trademark during his time at the club.

Town were struggling to create anything in front of goal, with a mixture of a resilient away defence and a poor final ball holding them back.

It would get worse for the hosts, as Griffith would catch a visiting attacker in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Langworthy fired the penalty into the bottom corner, ensuring the victory for his team.

Aarron Denny would force Clayton into a good save, while Malshanskyj should have scored following a Bishops Cleeve counter attack, with Phillips denying him with an excellent stop.

Town would have one more chance when Ace High’s shot was controlled by Denny, and he looked to find Bath, but it was just away from the striker in a move that summed up Exmouth’s day.

They will need to improve for next weekend, as they take on title-chasing Evesham away from home.

ATTENDANCE: 352

LINE-UP: Phillips, Cann, Belsten, Landricombe, Knowles, Shipton (McCuem 85), Griffith, L.Steer (High, 84), B.Steer (Denny, 72), Bath, Thorne (Swann, 81).

SUBS NOT USED: Rowe.