The points were shared for Hartpury FC during a battling 1-1 draw against Exmouth Town at the Search4Local Stadium, on Saturday.
Noah Coates grabbed the equalising goal to make sure the Acorns left with a point in this Southern League Div One South clash.
If it’s not broke, don’t fix it some say and that rings true with the Acorns unchanged yet again following Tuesday night’s away win over Sporting Club Inkberrow.
The only difference to the team sheet came on the bench with a possible debutant in Daf Hyett, who was named among the substitutes.
But the Acorns couldn’t have made a worst start when they found themselves behind after just three minutes, through a Ben Steer low finish.
Steer was almost on for a double on 11 minutes, when he was sent through on goal but Seth Locke got down well to hold the Exmouth attacker’s effort.
The Acorns managed to draw level on 16 minutes when Coates punished a parried Matthew Wonnacott save, smashing home from close range, following a driven Riley McGregor effort.
Coates then had to hook clear a dangerous Exmouth cross, up the other end, just four minutes later.
Nathan Jenkins came close to giving the Acorns the lead on 31 minutes when he was sent through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his low effort was well smothered.
Josh Roney was forced off with injury just minutes later for the Acorns.
It was all the Acorns towards the end of the half with Billy Osborn seeing a driven volley, from 18-yards, deflected behind on 39 minutes.
Coates couldn’t keep a header down on 43 minutes, seeing the game hit the halfway stage all square.
HALF TIME – EXMOUTH TOWN 1-1 HARTPURY FC
The Acorns started brightly in the second period with Jenkins seeing a distanced effort deflected behind on 55 minutes, before Coates hit one from 30-yards but couldn’t get past Wonnacott two minutes later.
A mix up at the back for Exmouth saw the ball fall free to Drew Robinson who tried his luck on the angle, but the goalkeeper smothered the effort well on 62 minutes.
Two minutes later, Morgan Ewing flashed an effort right across the face of goal.
The Acorns got themselves in a dangerous position, on 76 minutes, when Kian Davies had a free kick from 18-yards but could only strike the wall.
Exmouth started to mount pressure on the Acorns in the 82nd minute, but some vital blocks from McGregor and Sol Kent kept the scores level.
Right down the other end, Ewing tried to cut a shot back towards the near post but saw his effort matched by a low Wonnacott save.
Tom Bath could’ve won it for Exmouth late on, but he could only head over from a corner on 90 minutes, seeing the points shared in Devon.
The Acorns complete their away stint on Tuesday night, when we take a trip to Westbury United.
FULL TIME – EXMOUTH TOWN 1-1 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent, Robinson, McGregor, Roney (Walters 32’), Davies, Jenkins, Coates, Manning (Aldridge 78’), Ewing, Osborn © (Hyett 86’)
UNUSED SUBS: Sanniola, Symons
EXMOUTH XI: M. Wonnacott (GK), J. Cann, O. Knowles, I. Harris, M. Landricombe ©, A. Denny, A. High, B. Steer, E. Slater, T. Chastey, M. Wright
EXMOUTH BENCH: J. Belsten, C. Shipton, T. Bath, O. Johnson
Written by Sam Yapp
