Twenty to One

Saturday -
20: Devon & Exeter Division Eight: Westexe Rangers 2nds 4 University of Exeter 8ths 2
19: Devon & Exeter Division Seven: Lympstone 2nds 0 AFC Exe 5
18: Devon & Exeter Division Six: Elmore 3rds 3 Winchester 2nds 2
17: Devon & Exeter Division Five: Lapford 2nds 2 Broadclyst 3
16: Devon & Exeter Division Four: Cranbrook 2 St Martins 0 (in the Bill Slee cup)
15: Devon & Exeter Division Three: Not in action
14: Devon & Exeter Division Two: Tedburn St Mary 0 Elmore 2nds 5
13: Devon & Exeter Division One: Crediton United 2nds 2 Lympstone 1
12: Devon & Exeter Premier Division: Cronies v. Newtown (Home win awarded) (East Devon Senior Cup)
11: Devon League North & East Division: Alphington 11 Liverton 0 (Go my boys ... No! Go!)
10: South West Peninsula League Premier Division East: Dartmouth 3 Elmore 2
9: Western League Premier Division: Exmouth Town 2 Cadbury Heath 0
8: Southern League Division One South: Paulton Rovers 4 Barnstaple 0
7: Southern League Premier Division South: Farnborough 0 Tiverton 7 (result of the season?)
6: National League South: Weymouth 3 Concord Rangers 0
5: National League: Stockport County 0 Torquay United 4
4: Football League Two: Exeter City 1 Grimsby Town 3 (failed to make the unbeaten record)
3: Football League One: Southend United 0 Accrington Stanley 1
Sunday -
2: Barnsley 1 Brentford 3
Monday
1: Manchester United v. Arsenal: There may be some interest in this particular match.

The football pyramid fascinates me so I am happy to follow a team at every level but movement between levels is rare. There are many reasons why teams are at the level they are at and it is not ALL about football. Westexe Rangers Second Team for the Premier League!

Saturday almost pre match

Arsenal travel to Manchester United on Monday.

Brentford travel to Barnsley tomorrow (Sunday).

Southend, having won last week, are after the second win of the season at home to Accrington.

Exeter, seeking a record number of unbeaten matches, take on Grimsby at home.

Torquay travelling to Stockport are already 4-0 up at half time. It would take something to lose from there.

Weymouth are 1-0 up against Concord Rangers in a match I had pencilled in until the garage kept my car overnight (in practice for the whole weekend).

Tiverton travel to Farnborough in the Southern League Premier South and are currently 4-0 up.

The F.A.Trophy starts with the Extra Preliminary Round today but none of my teams are involved.

Barnstaple are on the road at Paulton Rovers and at half time they are 3-0 down.

In the Western League Exmouth are at home to Cadbury Heath. This match was another I may have payed to watch.

Elmore travelled to Dartmouth which is a lovely place I could have left the wife and I have no data at this point in the day from this or the previous fixture.

Liverton, my local village, travel to Alphington and as we lost 8-1 at home to them I have no intention of seeing how badly we can perform away from home.

Level 12 to 20 are local league matches so I will not bother you with them.

Arsenal 5 Nottingham Forest 0

At last we had an Arsenal team playing without fear.

Wholesale changes led to a team that performed well with Mesut Ozil contributing his passes although it was only when he left the field that we really took control of the game and scored most of the goals.

Gabriel Martinelli scored his first and second goals for the club by opening and completing the scoring. Kieran Tierney played after his injury break (we bought the player whilst injured) and by all accounts played well showing great speed and delivering well aimed crosses. Rob Holding returned to the fold and scored a well headed goal from a corner.

Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson are building their careers at Arsenal and they scored a goal apiece as we ran out 5-0 winners. Hector Bellerin, also returning from injury, created the chance for Willock by producing a cross with his second touch of the ball. All things positive in this one.

It is only the Carabao Cup and it is only Nottingham Forest but this was a comprehensive victory at the end. I think Forest just ran out of steam.

My only other team in action last night was Torquay who went down 3-2 at home to Eastleigh.

The aftermath

So Arsenal go a goal down to Aston Villa and have Ainslee Maitland-Niles sent off. We get a penalty that allows Pepe to score his first goal for the club and we then let them take the lead again within seconds. I have to be happy that we eventually won the game through a Callum Chambers first to the loose ball chip into the top of the net and a magnificent Aubameyang free kick that suggested to me a poorly set Aston Villa wall.

Arsenal 3 Aston Villa 2 = Happy face.

Moving back to Saturday's matches Brentford drew 0-0 at home to Stoke. The main thing when you play Stoke is to avoid injury and I have not heard of any injuries yet.

SOUTHEND UNITED WON A MATCH

As winning a league match is a unique event this season I have to be happy. The defence seems to have improved to the point where no goals were conceded and they were allowed to practice defence after Charlie Kelman scored the only goal of the game in the 4th minute.

Exeter travelled to Newport County and took the lead early in the match. Lee Martin scored after fifteen minutes but the Grecians conceded a penalty in the second half so the points were shared in this 1-1 draw.

Torquay, like Brentford, fought out a 0-0 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge. Enough said.

Weymouth beat Sholing 3-0 in the F.A.Cup so continue on to the next round.

Tiverton, however, lost their F.A.Cup match against Bristol Manor Farm 4-2.

Barnstaple continued their run of league defeats going down 1-0 at Willand Rovers.

Exmouth seem to be on a high at the moment. The 4-0 away win at Cribbs sees them climb to ninth place although they have played fewer matches than all of the teams above them. Good times.

Finally, I kept the costs down by attending my local village match to watch my Liverton boys score twice. The only problem with that statistic is that Witheridge, the opposition, scored double figures to inflict the worst defeat of the season so far. Once again it should have been more than ten but the keeper made a number of good saves and the Witheridge strikers also wasted some good chances.

I have to advertise: "Come and watch Liverton. You will see a great many goals."

There have been 53 goals in the eight Liverton matches so far. Know any good defenders?

Saturday Lunchtime : Before the Action

Arsenal are at home to Aston Villa tomorrow so I can delay any research until tonight.

Brentford are at home to Stoke today. I notice from the website that I could pay £5 to watch live video streaming from four separate cameras. The idea is tempting but I am going to get some fresh air following my local village team.

Southend United are away at Milton Keynes. Gary Waddock (I accidentally typed that as Wassock first time - time will tell) has asked his team to stop making individual mistakes. Conceding goals is what he wishes to stop. If he is true to his word and the players respond this one will finish 0-0.

Exeter City are away to Newport County which is a pleasant trip up the M5 and over the Severn bridge. Exeter are top of the league so should have nothing to fear but need to maintain their best form if they are to come away with another win.

Torquay are at home to Dagenham & Redbridge. The big news here is that there is a golden ticket to the Princess theatre for one lucky person who has bought a seat in the stand.

Weymouth and Tiverton are both competing in the F.A.Cup today and I am always drawn to that particular competition but I will simply check the results later on.

Weymouth are away to Sholing.

Tiverton are at home to Bristol Manor Farm.

Barnstaple are away at Willand Rovers. I have just checked their website and it seems that manager Aaron Harper-Penman has resigned. This could lead to renewed effort from the players or it could see the side falling away if the manager was achieving the best that the players are capable of.

Exmouth are away to Cribbs today. The website is a week out of date so I cannot provide any news.

Elmore have no match today.

I am now off to watch Liverton who are playing one of only three teams below them in the table. I hope Witheridge prove worthy of their position in the table.

Wednesday & Thursday

I did not travel to a match on Wednesday.

Tiverton took on Merthyr Town and came out 1-0 winners. The fact that it was a River Allen penalty should not detract from a very good defensive performance.

Elmore took on Torridgeside with the result being a 1-1 draw. Sadly their website still talks about this match as if it is in the future.

Arsenal started their Europa League campaign by pretending to be worse than Eintracht Frankfurt. In an open game there could have been a dozen goals but Frankfurt shot high wide and straight at Martinez whose hands were like superglue on the night. Arsenal missed several golden chances of their own but won the match with a deflected Willock shot, a marvelous Saka shot to the corner and a three on one where aubameyang kept the ball to himself to score the third.

Tuesday Night

In league one Southend United travelled to Shrewsbury and came away beaten 4-3. It is back to the red splash on my spreadsheet following that yellow at the weekend when they drew with Fleetwood. I wish to believe it was an exciting match but it seems that Shrewsbury were two goals ahead every time Southend scored.

Exeter took on Port Vale at home and remain top of the league after a 2-0 victory. Ryan Bowman scored a header from a rebound and Lee Martin scored following a deflection off the keeper. When your luck is in keep cashing those cheques.

Barnstaple took on Honiton Town in the Devon St Luke's Cup and managed to earn a 3-3 draw at home but my spreadsheet shows as red because they then capitulated in the penalty shoot out by 3 goals to 2. When you are down on your luck work harder.

Exmouth Town travelled to Almondsbury in the Les Phillips Cup. A brief message suggests that it was an away win by 4 goals to 1. Exmouth Town are flying at the moment and I have enjoyed watching them live.

Tomorrow both Tiverton and Elmore are at home. I have not yet decided whether I will go to either of those matches.

Round Up

Let us start with my village team.

Last week Liverton won their first match away at local rivals Bovey Tracey. The minor disappointment in this victory is that it was Liverton's first team and Bovey Tracey's reserves that were up against each other.

This week my boys took on Braunton from North Devon. Braunton took the lead but Liverton fought back to 1-1. Braunton took the lead once more and again Liverton fought back to 2-2. Braunton scored another and this time Liverton seemed to lose heart. Braunton went on to win 5-2 but that result is not really a true reflection of the match. Braunton should have won 10-2. They missed too many good chances to be title contenders.

Elmore took on Holsworthy in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division East. I think they will be happy with their 5-1 victory. The match report says that Bradley Kelly from the penalty spot, Jordan Casey, Daniel Tapp, Will Pinnock and Harry Butler scored.

Exmouth Town seem to have played very few league matches due to their participation in the various cups. Winning in the F.A.Cup, once via a replay has meant that four of the last eight matches have been F.A.Cup matches. Two have been Western Premier League matches and the other two have been F.A.Vase matches, the latest one on Saturday being away at Cadbury Heath. The outcome is that there will be another F.A.Vase match as Exmouth won 5-1. A comprehensive victory. I wonder who they will get in the next round ... checking ... Home against Portland United on 12th October.

Barnstaple were at home to Slimbridge having achieved a season record of 2 wins and 5 defeats. That record can now be amended to 2 wins and 6 defeats. The team lost 3-0 at home. As usual the Barnstaple website has not been updated so I have gone to the Slimbridge website for the information. Their match report suggests that Barnstaple started and finished strongly but Slimbridge did the ball playing in the middle of the match and scored all the goals.

The Tiverton match report starts with the phrase "The new look management team promised a different brand of football at the start of the season" and mentions that Hartley Wintney scored first. It was the second half performance that earned the visitors the win. An own goal was followed by goals from Jordan Bastin, Jared Lewington and River Allen in the fifth minute of eight minutes injury time.

Weymouth seems to be having a positive season with a single bank holiday blip so far. Travelling to St Albans city at the weekend they came away with a 4-1 win. Their website lists the goalscorers in a strange order but there were two goals in each half. Yemi Odubade scored after 33 minutes. Stephane Zubar scored just before half time. Shaun Hobson scored after 70 minutes and Jake McCarthy scored in the last minute. I love their website name though, uptheterras.co.uk.

Torquay travelled to Chesterfield in the National League. Torquay are mid table and Chesterfield are in the relegation zone so it has to be seen as a failure that Chesterfield ran out 1-0 winners. Torquay take on Dagenham & Redbrige next week and they are in the playoff zone so perhaps the gulls will raise their game for that one.

So to the league and you can do your own research here.

Exeter drew 2-2 at home to Leyton Orient.

Southend drew 3-3 at home to Fleetwood Town.

Brentford travelled to Preston North End and went down 2-0.

On Sunday my main team built me up with a 2-0 lead. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored from a brilliant turn and shot and a simple tap in. I am pleased that he is scoring freely but the ever present problem of the defence returned to haunt the gunners. Sokratis passed the ball straight to Deulofeu and Tom Cleverly finished cleverly. After that the whole team lost it and Watford could easily have won the game but Bernd Leno kept it to a 2-2 draw.

My life has been busy lately and I stayed up late for an online game that my team won. The effort needed did distract me from football. I have to decide where my priorities lie but winning was sweet.

Barnstaple Town

I noticed that Barnstaple have brought their away match at From forward from February 29th next year. The match was played on Saturday 7th September and the result was a 3-1 defeat for Barnstaple.

Remarkably the team are still mid table but they have played one more match than everybody else. Still, the golden rule is to have points on the table rather than games in hand.

Sunday Review

Southend United did not play as scheduled this weekend.

The reason from the Portsmouth website:

READ MORE: Kenny Jackett defends Portsmouth cancellation against struggling Southend

With Pompey set to be missing three players due to international call-ups as well as injuries to key members of the squad, the decision was made to suspend the fixture. 

The Blues would have been without keeper Craig MacGillivray, who has been called up to the Scotland squad, as well as Ronan Curtis, who is away with Republic of Ireland, and Rangers loanee Ross McCrorie, who is on international duty with the Scotland U21 squad. 

The new date has been set for Tuesday, November 5 (7.45pm kick-off). 

So we start with the long trip to Carlisle by my home town club Exeter City.

From the BBC website:

Second-half goals from Aaron Martin and Nicky Law proved decisive as League Two pacesetters Exeter maintained their unbeaten record with a 3-1 win at Carlisle.

Lee Martin had given Exeter a half-time lead which was cancelled out when Olufela Olomola equalised for Carlisle in the 61st minute.

Exeter began with a confidence befitting their league position and Lee Martin could easily have put them two goals ahead inside the first eight minutes when the game turned into a contest between the Exeter forward and Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin.

Collin parried Martin's first effort and then used his legs to keep out a low shot that looked bound for the bottom corner.

• 'More to come' from Exeter

After Law himself had flashed a shot across the face of goal, Jake Taylor went even closer with a low shot through a crowd of players that struck the bottom of Collin's left-hand post.

It was no surprise when Exeter took a 36th-minute lead. Randell Williams fed a ball across to Lee Martin, whose curling shot from the edge of the box left Collin diving in vain.

Saves by Collin from Williams and Ryan Bowman kept Carlisle in it after the break and the Cumbrians' equaliser came when Nathan Thomas' shot was blocked and the rebound fell for Olomola to head just inside the right-hand post.

Exeter were back in the lead six minutes later when, from the corner on the left, Aaron Martin thumped home a header from six yards and Law made certain in stoppage time, breaking on the left to fire an angled drive past Collin.

Report supplied by PA Media

Torquay United entertained Harrogate Town in the National League. From their website:

TUFC 4
(Andrews 51′, Lumbombo-Kalala 70′, Reid 73′, 80′)

Harrogate Town 2
(Stead 33′ pen, 58′)

United came from behind twice to secure victory, thanks to a marvellous last half-hour against Harrogate Town at Plainmoor.

Jon Stead’s goals, either side of Jake Andrews’ early second-half leveller, left Torquay with work to do with 30 minutes remaining. However a red card for Stead, coupled with a stunner from Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala, set up Jamie Reid’s double to seal all three points for Gary Johnson’s men.

Johnson was forced into a number of changes to the side that secured a 1-1 draw at Woking in midweek, with injured midfield trio Asa Hall, Armani Little and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans being replaced by Andrews, Robbie Cundy, for his full debut, and Ben Whitfield, who was making his home bow following his goalscoring debut in Surrey.

United began the game on top, with Whitfield carrying on where he left off on Tuesday by posing a constant threat for the Town backline. One left-foot cross on five minutes found Reid at the near-post, who fired wide.

Torquay’s other new boy, Cundy went agonisingly close later, with his 21st minute from a corner thudding against the post.

The game though, took a twist in the visitor’s favour on the 32 minutes, as Stead went down in the box under a challenge from Cundy, to win his side a penalty. The same player stepped up to send Lucas Covolan Cavagnari the wrong way and give Harrogate the lead.

goal celebrations for Jonathan Stead of Harrogate Town from the spot, during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

United’s frustration at falling behind was evident up until the interval, with Johnson having to do some fine-tuning during the break.

Just as happened last week against Hartlepool, The Gulls levelled things up in the opening stage of the second period, following a fine right-wing move.

Lumbombo-Kalala, on as a substitute, ran at the Town backline to free up Ben Wynter. The right-back delivered a fine cross into the path of Andrews, who fired home with ease to make it 1-1.

goal celebrations for Jake Andrews of Torquay United, during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

After looking to build on this, it was a real sucker-punch when United fell behind again just seven minutes later.

A deep cross into the box from the left from George Smith found Stead jostling for position at the back post, and the experienced striker edged away from his marker to fire home from the angle of the six-yard box.

Just when the former England-U21 striker might have fancied himself for a hat-trick chance, his afternoon took a turn for the worse on 63 minutes.

Having been booked earlier in the match, the referee took a dim view of a handball offence inside the centre-circle, and gave the towering front man his marching orders.

Seizing the initiative on Town’s main outlet disappearing down the tunnel, Johnson’s men started to press Harrogate back against the Babbacombe End, and a moment of real class set United on their way.

Lumbombo-Kalala, clearly in the mood to turn the game on its head, initially looked to be sizing up his options when the ball reached him on the edge of the box, before unleashing a high drive over the ‘keeper’s head and into the roof of the net to drag his side level.

goal celebrations for Kalvin Kalala of Torquay United during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

The French winger instantly signalled for the ball to be collected from the back of the net, as United set about pressing home their advantage.

In the 73rd minute, Andrews, outstanding all afternoon, drove deep into the area before being brought down. The referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot, with Jamie Reid grabbing the ball.

Reid’s penalty was well saved by  James Belshaw in the Harrogate goal, but in true poacher fashion, Reid followed up to send the loose ball into the net to put Torquay in front for the first time.

Penalty for Jamie Reid of Torquay United on the rebound, during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

United weren’t in the mood to let the game slip away now and with ten minutes to go, the points were made safe.

A delightful move across the box ended with Lumbombo-Kalala threading the ball through to Reid, who made space before belting home a left-footed effort high into the net to make it four.

goal celebrations for Jamie Reid of Torquay United during the Vanarama National League match between Torquay United and Harrogate Town on Saturday 7 Sep 2019, Plainmoor, Torquay, Devon -PHOTO: Sean Hernon/PPAUK

With depleted resources and in the face of adversity, United had emerged victorious, in what could prove to be a pivotal game for their ambitions this season.

Next up is a trip to the Proact Stadium next Saturday, as Johnson’s men take on bottom-of-the-table Chesterfield.

TUFC: 28. Lucas Covolan Cavagnari, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Liam Davis, 4. Kyle Cameron (c), 6. Joe Lewis (16. Ryan Dickson, 66′), 9. Manny Duku (20. Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala, HT) 11. Jake Andrews (15. Matt Buse, 86′), 14. Frank Vincent, 19. Jamie Reid, 25. Robbie Cundy, 34. Ben Whitfield. SUBS NOT USED: 1. Shaun MacDonald, 23. Louie Slough.

Yellow Card: Davis (18′), Vincent (44′)

Harrogate Town: 1. James Belshaw, 2. Ryan Fallowfield, 3. George Smith, 6. Warren Burrell (c), 8. Jack Emmett (9. Mark Beck, 65′), 14. Brendan Kiernan (10. Sam Jones, 75′), 16. Jon Stead, 18. Jack Muldoon, 20. Connor Hall, 21. Scott Brown, 22. William Smith. SUBS NOT USED: 7. George Thomson, 13. Joe Cracknell, 23. Jack Diamond.

Yellow Card: Stead (40′, 63′)

Red Card: Stead (63′)

Attendance: 2,527 (59 away)

  

Weymouth Town were also at home. They took on Welling United.

From their website:

It took a late strike from substitute Brett Williams for Weymouth to finally get over the line against a highly organised, ten-man Welling outfit, a result that slides them straight back up to seventh place in the standings after ten games.

Exmouth Town could not capitalise on their victory over Yate Town as they travelled to Highworth Town in the First Qualifying Round of the F.A.Cup and went down 4-2. The match against a Football League team must wait for at least another season.

Elmore took on Plymouth Marjon at home and came out 2-0 winners. This puts Elmore onto 3 points and just above the two relegation places. Plymouth Marjon are in one of those relegation places.

In the Devon League North & East my home village team travelled all the way to the village next door. Bovey Tracey may actually be a town but I walked through the village green to get to the ground and then they made me pay. Most Level 11 matches are free but I was asked for £2 as an OAP and I am glad I paid. The facilities are in good condition although the seat next to me had been unscrewed by some bored youth in a previous match. My team then produced their performance of the season thanks to the new players signed after that 8-1 defeat.

The first half was an even contest and Liverton took the lead. This had happened before but now the defence looked organised rather than ramshackle. Liverton continued to create chances but so did Bovey Tracey. I felt that the Bovey shots were better as they wizzed past the base of the uprights whereas many Liverton shots cleared the crossbar by several feet. Nomatter, I am almost a Liverton supporter now and my team had some fight at last. ... Bovey Tracey equalised. I had seen this before. My team were about to fall apart.

I heard several shouts in support of Liverton and we seemed to have more support than the home team. Two coaches (or ex coaches more accurately) shouted at the blue shirts to get themselves organised and challenge for the ball. This shouting was what had been missing at the start of the season. Some of the players responded.

With five minutes to go the score was 2-2 and there were plenty of chances at both ends. This match was entertainment at its best, the result was always in doubt. One of the blue shirts that I gave top marks to shot at goal but it was straight at the keeper. Oh well. Hang on. The keeper got both hands to the ball and still let it slip over his shoulder and into the net. Clearly our striker had put spin on the ball and the keeper was not up to it.

If you have ever supported a team that loses every week you know that special feeling when you win. It may be a one off and I had made my mind up not to bother with the next home match but now I have to consider very hard whether to watch the newly manned team or pursue my selections at other levels of the pyramid. Maybe my bank balance will keep me in Liverton. That is certainly a possibility.

Now let me see how my selections from Level 12 to 20 did. Those results are nothing to do with you though.

International Weekend

The England team are in action (along with many other nations) so we have no Premier League Football this weekend. Nowadays the Championship is also held in abeyance while the Nations battle.

So with no games for Arsenal or Brentford I can concentrate on some of my minnow selections.

Southend United travel to Portsmouth and I could have made that journey but having just moved funds are much shorter than they might be. Exeter have their longest journey as they travel to Carlisle to take on the United of the far north.

Both of my National League selections are at home. Torquay take on Harrogate Town while Weymouth entertain Welling United. I shall check on those results after I return home from my local derby.

Exmouth are away to Shepton Mallet and I hope there is no hangover from that fantastic F.A.Cup win over Yate Town but I fear that there might be.

Elmore are at home to Plymouth Marjon but that educational establishment no longer holds the great fascination that it did when I had a girlfriend there a very very very long time ago.

My choice of venue is Bovey Tracey where my home village of Liverton United will be competing. This is a local derby at Level 11 and being free (good value for money) I cannot turn down the opportunity of visiting another local ground. I may even get some of my family there.

The local league, Devon & Exeter, are in cup week so teams may meet other teams a level or two above or below the level they play at. This is a chance for giant killing and choking. I will be eager to check all the results once the battling is complete.

Enjoy YOUR weekend wherever it is that YOU are watching football.

F.A.Cup Excitement

I went to watch an F.A.Cup match last night.

Exmouth Town had travelled to Yate Town at the weekend and earned a 2-2 draw which entitles them to a replay. I figured that Yate who are in the Southern League could produce a good account of themselves but they were now away and Exmouth are a competent Western League team that earned promotion last season from the South West Peninsula League.

On this occasion I left in time to reach a cashpoint machine, park my car securely and walk to the ground at Southern Road in Exmouth. There was a larger than usual crowd outside as I drove past and when I walked back they had made their way into the ground and were all around it. Most of the time there is room on one side for everybody.

When the match started it seemed to be a faster pace than I was expecting. Yate Town dominated possession but Exmouth were putting the tackles in and were good for the draw at half time. No goals but plenty of excitement and the Exmouth keeper seemed to have gloves with superglue on. Nothing went astray and everything stuck when he went for it. A fantastic shot from one of the Yate players was dipping just under the crossbar but it was tipped over for a corner. Inspiring keeping.

The second half was different but not for lack of pace. Every Exmouth player chased down the Yate men and the Exmouth defence remained solid even when the corners came in. I think all bar two headers saw the ball ejected from the penalty area and the two that went in the direction of the goal disappeared over the top. Nearer the end of the match shot after shot from Yate went high and wide including all of the free kicks that the referee seemed keen to award.

Exmouth scored early in the second half and I did feel sorry for the Yate keeper as he was abandoned and left to fend for himself against two Exmouth men. The goal was scored from what seemed like a difficult and narrow angle.

The second goal calmed the Exmouth team and they worked a disciplined seven back and three up with the midfield never tiring and ensuring that the forwards were provided with several decent chances.

This was an Exmouth that I have never seen before and if that is the standard of Southern League football then I need to seek it out.

The mood in the ground was positive but then it always is when you are winning.

I passed a fellow fan leaving the ground who suggested that Exmouth should have won by more than two goals but I have seen enough football to know that Yate provided stern opposition and on another night could well have won. The Exmouth team deserve every praise for this win.

So, as a minnow, that concludes the Extra Preliminary Round and the Preliminary Round. We now go on to the First Qualifying Round. Another four wins and we might get to face a team from the Football League. Bring it on!

August is Over

Before I talk about the weekend let us look ahead to tonight.

Southend United are away at Leyton Orient in what used to be called the Checkatrade Trophy but must now be known as the Leasing Dot Com Trophy. I give us no chance at all.

Exeter City are at home to Cheltenham Town and being league leaders in League Two must give my selection a good chance of winning this one. I live in hope.

Torquay are away to Woking in the National League and I was going to talk us up but Woking are top of the table having won seven of their eight games so far. I foresee another home win.

Weymouth who are currently in the last of the play off places travel to Oxford City who are closer to the bottom of the table than the top so I think this presents the most even contest of all tonight's matches.

Finally, Barnstaple travel to Cinderford Town in the Southern League Division One South and incredibly Cinderford are below Barnstaple in the table. Dare I predict a win? No!

So ... on to the past weekend.

Arsenal continue to show defensive frailties. Granit Xhaka has decided to take over from Mustaffi by sliding in and giving away an easy penalty. Harry Kane despatched it with ease and from that point on we had to recover the situation. Gaining a point against a side as good as Pochettino's is no simple task so I have to be content with a point. Lacazette scored a beauty and Aubameyang provided a deft touch to give us our two goals. Not paying for Sky TV puts me at a disadvantage but there are plenty of live streams on the internet which provide coverage. The added advantage is that I am notified by text that a goal is coming before I get to see the action.

Brentford got going at last with a 3-0 win over Derby County. Two goals were provided by Ollie Watkins and the other one came from Bryan Mbeumo. The season starts here!

Southend United continued their 100% record by losing at home to Rochdale. If they are not careful I will have to drop them from my selections in favour of a better League One team.

Exeter City took on Mansfield Town (we win on team name ... city beats town) and Ryan Bowman scored after 5 minutes. This proved to be the only goal of the game.

Torquay took on Hartlepool in the battle of the Uniteds. Jamie Reid scored for Torquay but it was not sufficient and Hartlepool won the match by two goal to one.

Weymouth travelled to Tonbridge Angels in the National League South and came away with a 1-1 draw. Brett Williams scored shortly after half time but Weymouth could not hold on to that lead.

Tiverton were at home to Salisbury in the Southern League South and these teams played a thriller of a 3-3 draw. All the goals came from midfield with Jordan Bastin, Steve Colwell and Michael Landricombe scoring for Tiverton.

Barnstaple were at home to AFC Totton and perhaps I should have followed my whim when I thought about making this week my first visit to the far north (of Devon). Jack Langford scored the only goal of the game in this one.

Exmouth Town were competing in the F.A.Vase and this is a competition where level nine teams can do very well. The F.A. is finally forcing the Northern League teams to accept promotion but they are still far more likely to win because of the history of the Football Pyramid. Exmouth beat Brislington 3-2 and march on to the next round.

Incidentally ... I plan to watch the F.A.Cup replay at Southern Road when Yate Town come to town.

Elmore travelled to Brixham in the South West Peninsula League East but came away with a 2-1 defeat. At least this match was completed though.

Liverton took on Alphington in the Devon League. I figured this would make a pleasant afternoon watching my local team compete against a team from a small area of Exeter. When we went 3-0 down all my hopes had dried up. I got talking to two committee members and there are serious problems at Liverton. Alphington eventually won 8-1. This is a new low for my home team.

There were mixed results in the local league including a match abandoned because of stones in the goalmouth but that does not concern you.

Roll on the winter. When the wind and rain come I can hide at home and watch through the marvelous medium of the internet.