An excellent first half display saw Exmouth Town comfortably beat Cribbs 3-0 at the Lawns, as they maintain their Southern League Division One South play-off push.

Jack Thorne and Ace High started proceedings for Town, who had the chances to go further clear within half an hour.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts as Sonny Harnett-Balkwill was sent off for a foul on Ben Steer, with the following free-kick being scored by Louis Morison.

Exmouth started proceedings in the best way possible, as the hosts fell asleep at the back from a quick throw-in, allowing Aarron Denny to play Thorne through on goal, and the striker slotted past the goalkeeper.

Town should have been two to the good moments later, as Thorne aimed to turn provider when he squared to Ben Steer, but the winger diverted a close range effort over the bar.

High had a chance to extend the lead as he went one-on-one with Jack Witchard, but he sent his low shot wide of the goal.

Luke Steer was next to have a go on goal, with the goalkeeper on hand to deny him.

Cribbs, looking to capitalise on the missed chances, forced Frankie Phillips into a good save, as Otis Lewis took aim inside the box.

Exmouth were able to get that seemingly illusive second goal, as Thorne played the ball across goal, where an unmarked High awaited to tap in.

The forward almost helped Town get a third, as his header was went just wide, and Ollie Knowles was just centimetres away from knocking in a fizzed ball across the box.

It was all Exmouth, who were completely dominating proceedings at the Lawns, highlighted by Tor Swann’s dominance over his opposing full-back, which enabled Town to create plenty of chances down the right-hand side.

Spike Weaver had a chance to get his side back into the game after some neat one-touch play around the away defence, with his powerful shot going straight at Phillips, who denied him.

Harnett-Balkwill summed up the first half for Cribbs, after coming on as a tactical first half change, and seeing himself dismissed after a foul on Ben Steer just outside the box.

Louis Morison would compound the hosts’ misery as he stepped up to curl the free-kick into the top corner.

The Steer’s linked up with Ben having an effort strike the post, but that would be it in terms of Town’s big chances.

With the game on Monday in mind, all five subs were used before the 64th minute, and with the hosts in damage limitation mode, the game fizzled out with Town keeping plenty of possession, but in no rush to make more happen.

Witchard was forced into an excellent stop, denying Ben Griffith’s first time shot on the edge of the box, before being called into action to deny Isaac McCue.

Exmouth will have no time to relax, as they aim to keep their play-off hopes alive against Helston on Bank Holiday Monday, at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Knowles, Morison (Rowe, 55), Denny, Griffith, L.Steer (Cann, 55), B.Steer (Shipton, 60), Swann (McCue, 64), High, Thorne (Bath, 64).