Honiton Town banished any memories of the previous outing’s first league reversal of the season with a classy show to defeat in-form Exmouth Amateurs at Mountbatten Park.

Simply getting the game on was something of a labour for groundsmen John Connett and Pete Farmer who worked their magic to ensure a playable surface for the Hippo’s.

Town boss Kev Blackwell was most appreciative saying: “It’s the sort of work done by the likes of John and Peter that sometime gets forgotten, as does lots and lots of other fabulous work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the club operational.”

He continued: “Thankfully the sterling efforts of the ground staff were more than matched on the field by the players. What we are also fortunate to have at the club are some very good players who can turn a game with a moment of brilliance, and that was what happened with the Lewis Couch goal. I did not need to say much at the break as we were more than matching the Ammies work rate, all I did suggest is that we might try and be a wee bit more clinical in front of goal!”

Exmouth Amateurs had started brightly, but the Hippo’s defence in front of safe-hands Matty Long in goal, were equal to the best thrown at them.

It was that classy goal alluded to by the Town boss with Lewis Couch breaking the deadlock with a 25-yard free-kick that arrowed its way into the top corner of the net

Unselfish work from Matt Brown set up Chris Long to double the lead just before the interval.

After the break a double from Brown completed the scoring. It might have been more had not the crossbar kept out a fierce shot from Dan Broom who also saw another shot squirm wide after good work from Tom Perryman and Chris Long.

Blackwell said: “Any more of a margin would have been extremely harsh on them (Ammies). After beating us here in the cup we knew that they were not a side to be taken lightly, and I am sure they will give a lot of sides problems this year, and may well be in the mix, hopefully with us, at the top end of the league come April.”

He continued: “All of the team had fantastic games, but the spine of the team set the tempo and attitude for the side. It really would be very hard to single out any individual in what was a pretty thorough team performance.”

Next up Town travel to Exeter to meet University on Saturday (February 7). The students sit third, seven points adrift of table-topping Town having played a game less.