Clinical finishing helped Hartpury FC advance in the FA Trophy beating Exmouth Town 4-1 at the KMM Energy Stadium, on Saturday.
Goals from Kian Davies, Morgan Ewing, Billy Osborn and Louis Manning saw the Acorns come out on top in this first qualifying round tie.
Exmouth had the opening chance of the game from the spot, on three minutes, but Matt Wright’s driven spot kick was well beaten away by Seth Locke.
The Acorns built on that early let off and went close on seven minutes saw Nathan Jenkins fire just over from close range, after Drew Robinson found him with a lofted cross.
Ewing poked the ball across the six-yard box, a minute later, but it was inches to far for a lunging Keon Sanniola.
But Exmouth did find their breakthrough on 13 minutes, when Ben Steer lifted an effort over Locke and into the back of the net.
The Acorns didn’t waste any time getting level when Davies turned his man and fired home into the bottom corner, five minutes later, after Jenkins lifted a delicate ball over the top.
And the Acorns turned the game around four minutes later after Ewing latched onto a loose ball, inside the area, to drill the Acorns ahead.
Manning tried getting himself on the scoresheet, but twice saw his driven efforts blocked at close range, on 26 and 32 minutes.
Riley McGregor produced a composed piece of defending to holt Steer’s progress towards goal on 39 minutes.
Sanniola again found a low cross inches too far in front of him, on the stroke of half time, when he could only poke a Jenkins cross wide.
HALF TIME – HARTPURY FC 2-1 EXMOUTH TOWN
Steer almost got Exmouth level moments after the restart when he attempted another lofted effort but saw it cannon back off the bar.
Down the other end, Osborn saw an acrobatic effort loop just over the Exmouth goal before Exmouth goalkeeper, Matt Wonnacott, superbly denied Jenkins and Davies with a trio of saves on 56 minutes.
The Acorns opened up some breathing space on the hour mark when Osborn squeezed home an effort from close range.
Seven minutes later, Sol Kent put his body on the line to keep out a driven Exmouth effort.
The tie was all wrapped on 70 minutes when Manning drove past his marker, before rounding the goalkeeper and rolling the ball into an empty net.
Exmouth tried their best at finding the net again and almost did when Iestyn Harries struck the bar on 85 minutes.
Joao Silva almost added a fifth on 87 minutes but saw his first time effort blocked on the line by teammate Sanniola.
But a much improved team performance guided the Acorns through to the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy.
The Acorns are back in Southern League action next Saturday when we take a trip to newly promoted Paulton Rovers.
FULL TIME – HARTPURY FC 4-1 EXMOUTH TOWN
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent ©, Walters (Callow 74’), McGregor, Robinson (Osborn 46’), Aldridge, Jenkins (Silva 80’), Davies, Ewing (Symons 90’), Sanniola, Manning (Preston 72’)
Written by Sam Yapp
