Two second half goals from Ace High and Tom Bath kept Exmouth Town’s play-off hopes alive as they beat Helston 2-0 at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Traffic issues led to a delay in the game starting, but once it did get going, it took Town 70 minutes to break down a resilient away backline, and leave them with something to play for on the final day of the Southern League Division One South.

Exmouth have started fast in their previous two games, and they looked to continue that habit, as Jack Thorne forced former Town goalkeeper Andrew Sowden-Bird into a good save after six minutes.

High would drift out wide and pick out Ben Steer with a cross, but the winger’s header went wide of the goal.

Town continued to apply pressure to the visitors had a half-chance through High, although his shot was blocked.

Steer would have another go at beating Sowden-Bird, but this time the shot-stopper reacted well to parry his curling effort past the post.

Tor Swann, who had an electric first half last Saturday against Cribbs, looked to continue that form as he found space out wide, and shot at the goalkeeper.

The following long ball from Sowden-Bird caught the Town defence asleep, but James Simmonds header was easy for the recently crowned Fans’ Player of the Year, Frankie Phillips.

Both Swann and High would have more chances to open the scoring, with the former aiming straight at the goalkeeper, and the latter firing over.

Helston remained a threat on the break, with them going three-on-three with the Town defence, but Simmonds went early with his shot and it drifted wide.

Town once again looked to come out swinging in the second half, with High getting some space to shoot, but a good block allowed Sowden-Bird to collect.

A long-throw from the number nine was cleared out to Luke Steer, whose powerful volley was caught by the goalkeeper.

Exmouth’s best chance of the game came after the hour mark, as Thorne found himself one-on-one with Sowden-Bird, but he placed his shot at the goalkeeper.

It was beginning to look like Town were going to go without a goal, until a spell of corners eventually led to High powerfully heading past the goalkeeper. 

The hosts would keep that momentum going, as Aarron Denny was brought down in the box by a Helston defender, and the referee duly pointed to the spot.

Substitute Tom Bath coolly sent Sowden-Bird the wrong way and placed his shot into the bottom right corner. 

The goalkeeper was forced into one more good save before the match ended, as Swann teed up Isaac McCue, but his close-range shot was read well.

Josh Cann could have had a rare goal as he burst past the Helston defence, with his low drive ended up just wide of the post.

It was a relieving win for Exmouth, who will now go into their final game of the season away at Larkhall knowing that all they can do is win, and hope other results go their way.

ATTENDANCE: 471

LINE-UP: Phillips, Belsten, Knowles, Morison, L.Steer (Cann, 85), Swann, Griffith, Denny, High (Shipton, 82), Thorne (McCue, 85), B.Steer (Bath, 67).

SUBS NOT USED: Rowe.