Honiton Town thirds, like the Mountbatten Park club’s other two teams, were left with bare numbers for their macron League Division Nine game at Millwey Rise and they eventually slipped to a 3-1 defeat.

Town made a bright start with Jack De Winton and Charlie Freeman working hard up front and creating several openings. Town scored first with Tim Huxley marking his Hippos debut with a terrific goal.

However, once from that moment on things went downhill for the visiting side!

Two goals for the hosts saw them into the break with a 2-1 advantage. Town began the second half without teenager De Winton who had picked up a knock and an even younger player – 16-year-old Dylan Cody – took his place.

In the second half Town were second best and, but for some poor finishing, would surely have suffered a far heavier defeat than the final 3-1 score line.

Town boss Andy Pike said: “In all honesty we were comprehensively beaten across the park and we will have to improve vastly if we are to stand any chance of promotion this season. This game was a real chance for players to stamp their authority on the starting 11 and it was very much a case of chances missed, consistency is so important and we cannot afford many performances like this. We are however a very good club at full strength and I have full confidence that we will bounce back from this quickly.”

On Saturday (September 17) Town thirds have an interesting encounter when they host Bideford Community Reserves in the Devon Intermediate Cup.