AXMOUTH United travelled to UAU Exeter looking to strengthen their hold at the top of the Division Six table.

With three straight victories behind them, United were faced with a side who had won their last four games.

United, missing six regular players, put in a brave display but were just edged out by the odd goal in three in a bruising encounter.

United spurned a great chance to take a 25th minute lead when Jamie Hughes fired a penalty over the bar.

Shortly after the spot kick miss the hosts scored on the break to take a single goal advantage into the half-time interval.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first 45 minutes with the match officials’ whistle being called into action countless times owing to a succession of fouls as the game became very fragmented and scrappy.

A well taken goal doubled the home lead and it was not until the 87th minute that United found the back of the Exeter side’s net when Hughes successfully tucked away a second spot kick.

A disappointed United boss, Laurie Forino said: “We are all bitterly disappointed with the performance. Quite simply we never got out of a very low gear. We cannot hide behind the fact that we were missing such a large number of players as we should still have been strong enough to have got something from this game. We have the ideal match with which to bounce back from this when we take on favourites Exmouth Town on Saturday. We’ll have some of the missing lads back and everyone is very keen to play against Town.”