Exmouth Town came back from a two-goal deficit to beat Bideford AFC 5-3, in their final game of 2025, at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium.

Despite falling 3-1 down, thanks to goals from Finn Roberts, Ryan Turner and Archie Reay, Town were able to bounce back through Ben Steer, Ben Griffith, a Matt Wright brace, and an own goal.

The visitors started well, applying plenty of pressure to the Town backline, without forcing Aaron Dearing into making a save.

That was soon to change, as a floated ball through to Roberts saw him in plenty of space, and he punished the hosts, lashing the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

It was all Bideford, as Jack Winsor looked to extend his sides lead, but Dearing was on hand to deny his edge of the box effort.

Exmouth began to find their footing after the 20 minute mark, and put some pressure of their own onto the away side.

This led to the equaliser, as Aarron Denny was played in down the left-hand side, and whilst his shot was saved by Leo McCormick, the goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Ben Steer’s follow-up from finding the back of the net.

Bideford would respond, as Winsor was once again prevented from a second goal by the quick thinking of Dearing, who rushed out to deny him a rebound.

They would go in front just before the break, as a ball from Roberts would go all the way across goal, and meet the run of Turner, who tapped the ball into the back of the net.

Things would not get much better for Town at the start of the second half, as a quick counter attack saw the ball fall to Archie Reay, and he finished past Dearing.

Town would have the opportunity to get back into it just five minutes later, when Aarron Denny was brought down in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Ben Griffith stepped up to fire the ball into the bottom corner, and put Exmouth a step closer to the equaliser.

Town were getting better by the minute, with a superb McCormick save denying Denny’s half-volley, and then a goal-line clearance preventing Mike Landricombe from scrambling the ball home.

Matt Wright was introduced to the game after an hour, and his impact was instant, as Sam Morcom’s free-kick was met by the striker, and headed home.

With Town completely in the ascendancy, they capitalised on that to put themselves in front, as Steer’s cross was met by Wright, who got around his man to tap home.

Morcom’s deliveries proved to be a constant source of chances for Town, as his free-kick helped seal the game, as it was diverted in by a Bideford defender.

The game would gain some needle, with two ‘coming together’s’ leading to multiple yellow cards, whilst Ed Butcher forced McCormick into another good stop.

Town will look to take that second half into 2026, as they head to Bristol Manor Farm next Saturday.

Attendance: 390

Line-Up: Dearing, Morcom, Cann, Landricombe, Shore (Wright, 60), Knowles (Slater, 54), Shipton, Griffith, Denny, Steer (Crawford, 85), Bath (Butcher, 81)