Axminster Town Reserves bagged a ninth win of the Fresha League Division Four season with a 6-2 success at Morchard Bishop to stay three points clear at the top of the table.

Like all matches played on the first Saturday of December, the Tigers – and their hosts – had to battle their way through 90 minutes of football played in gale-force winds with the additional problem of very long grass on the pitch!

Tigers played against the elements in the first half and, having survived a few scares in the first 15 minutes, began to take control.

With the defence looking strong and organised and with good link up play between the midfield and front two it came as no surprise when Oli Highett opened the scoring on 25 minutes with a cracking volley from the edge of the area.

Soon after, the scorer limped off to be replaced by Harry Jobson, but the Tigers continued to create - and squander - more chances.

However, on the stroke of half-time the game changed when a mix-up in the Tigers defence led to a penalty which was duly converted. The Tigers began the second period – now playing with the wind in their favour – sluggishly and conceded a second goal within five minutes of the restart.

This served as a ‘wake-up’ call for the team and a switch to a 3-4-3 formation saw them dominate the rest of the game with the home team barely able to get out of their own half.

After Stuart Broom levelled the scores Dan Beer scored a fine hat-trick and Drikesh added the sixth five minutes from time to round off a fine team performance.

On Saturday the Tigers head for Exeter and a meeting with seventh placed University fifths who are currently unbeaten at home after five matches at Dukes Meadow this season.