Axmouth United slipped to a second successive defeat when beaten 5-3 at home by Newtown Thirds in the last eight of the Football Express Cup.

The two sides had met just seven days before in a league game.

United, hamstrung with having to make eight changes from the previous game, made a bright start and took a seventh minute lead when Charlie Clarke met a Jamie Hughes corner at the near post to head home.

There was a glorious chance spurned to double the lead in the 13th minute when Jake Dack raced through but was denied in a one-on-one with the visiting keeper.

United keeper Andrew Smart then made a fine save to deny the Exeter side but he was powerless to prevent their 26th minute equaliser.

Matt Ellis then went close before the visitors took a 34th minute lead. United battled back and were level at the break courtesy of a sweeping move that ended with Ellis scoring.

Shortly after the re-start Smart made another fine stop before United claimed the lead with Scott Dyers netting.

Being caught in possession was punished clinically by the Exeter side who levelled at 3-3 and then edged ahead despite an initial excellent goal line clearance from Christian Burridge.

United pressed, looking to force the game into an extra half-hour and left gaps at the back, exploited by the visitors who scored a late penalty to seal a 5-3 win.

Boss Laurie Forino said: “There’s no doubt this was a superb game contested by two well matched sides. I do think the result is harsh on us as we matched them throughout but you don’t always get what you deserve in this game. Burridge, Clarke,

Ellis and Dan Jeeves all deserve special mention but, for me, Scott Dyer was the Man of the Match.”

United don’t have long to look to exact revenge as the same two sides meet for the third successive Saturday this weekend in another league meeting when Forino’s men will hope it’s third time lucky in this particular fixture!