There was no Saturday action for Honiton Town, and results elsewhere left them sitting third, edged out of second place on goal difference by Topsham Town with Newtown still top of the Fresha League Premier Division table.

Both the Hippos and Topsham Town have a game in hand on the leaders who are currently seven points better off.

Both Town and the Tops have six to play with Newtown facing five more.

The Tops play the first of their final six with a Wednesday night (April 20) game at Heavitree United and then, on Saturday they host Hatherleigh before hosting Seaton Town next Wednesday (April 27).

The Hippos head for Heavitree on Wednesday night on a run of six straight wins.

Hippos boss Kev Blackwell says: “All of a sudden it’s got very tight at the top of the league! I had always carried a torch to get my home-town club into the Devon and Exeter League Premier Division. So, this season, having finally made it, just being in the top flight and rubbing shoulders with the top teams at this level, has been brilliant. “The progress of the first team has been down entirely to the players. To a man they have done the club proud and I hope the Town do see that. After being told we would be in and around the bottom half of the table before a ball was kicked, I privately hoped we’d simply establish ourselves in the top flight. But, as the season kicked-in and our good start saw the dust settle on the early season, I changed my thinking to more of targeting a top half finish and now, in the final furlongs of the campaign, we are in then mix for the top six! We share the leading spots with the likes of Elmore, Feniton, Topsham and Newtown. That leaves us certainly dining at the Fresha League top table.

“As Sir Alex Ferguson once famously said ‘it’s now squeaky bum time – and simply being where we are now and involved in the destiny of the top honour, is testament to the fabulous work put in on – and off – the pitch by lots and lots of very good fol.”

He continued: “I do think, as we stand, Newtown have too many points on the board, and Topsham Town seem to have hit a bit of form straight after we took four points off them.

“Picking the side has not got any easier, but all the lads are clearly sharing the same desire and thirst for success and therefore are all pushing in the right direction, and, wherever they finish, for a first season back in Premier football, it will have been an amazing feat.

“There are two tough games coming up, Heavitree away on weds, and Hatherleigh on Saturday. The reserves have a massive The next couple of games will be season defining. That said, we must not forget the bigger picture of the club overall and the Reserve team have a massive Friday night game against Axminster Town at Mountbatten Park.”