Resolute Defenses and Missed Chances: Exmouth and Westbury United Battle to Stalemate in Promotion Race

EXMOUTH — On a crisp afternoon along the Devon coast, Exmouth and Westbury United delivered a compelling, if ultimately fruitless, contest between two clubs with their sights firmly fixed on the Non League Div One - Southern South’s top tier. By the final whistle at the Complete Infrastructure Stadium, neither side had managed to breach the other’s defenses, settling for a 0-0 draw whose echoes may linger loudly in the race for promotion.

Exmouth arrived in buoyant form, their recent run defined by narrow, hard-earned victories and a growing sense of momentum. Four wins from their previous five matches—including a spirited 2-1 away performance at Tavistock and a dominant 4-1 dismantling of Brixham—had propelled the Seasiders to the division’s upper reaches. The home crowd, swelled by optimism, expected nothing less than another decisive display from a side that had found the net with notable regularity.

Westbury United, meanwhile, traveled west with confidence of their own. Their campaign, interrupted only by a single defeat in league play and a narrow exit in the FA Cup, had likewise marked them as early season contenders. A resolute rear-guard, the bedrock of last week’s 2-1 comeback win over Mousehole, offered hope that Westbury’s visit could serve as a springboard into the division’s top four.

Yet as the opening minutes unfolded, it became clear that the margins separating these two ambitious sides would remain stubbornly thin. Exmouth, orchestrated from deep by captain Tom Gardner, settled into quick, intricate passing movements, probing for weaknesses along the flanks. The hosts engineered the game’s first real opportunity in the 12th minute, when striker Jordan Harris split the Westbury back line—a sharp one-two releasing him at the edge of the box—only for Lewis Porter to smother the shot, diving low to his left.

Westbury, for their part, were content to absorb pressure, before launching counterattacks with the pace of Harry Burns and the guile of playmaker Jamie Jordan. The visitors’ most promising spell arrived midway through the first half, as a flowing move down the right saw fullback Sam Tovey overlap and send a teasing cross into the area. There, forward Shaun Carter rose highest, glancing his header narrowly wide of the post, much to the relief of Exmouth keeper Robbie Powell.

The second half retained the same edge—tense, tactical, and defined by missed opportunities rather than moments of brilliance. Exmouth’s best chance came moments after the restart, as Archie Collins’ curling free kick from 25 yards forced Porter into a fingertip save. Both sets of supporters rose as Ben Steer, ever industrious on the wing, darted into the box, only to see his square pass intercepted at the crucial instant.

As the minutes ticked away, urgency replaced caution. Westbury’s substitutes injected fresh legs and intent, but their final ball continually met stout resistance from the Exmouth defense. In the 73rd minute, a flashpoint threatened to turn the match: a crunching challenge in midfield drew appeals for a red card from the Westbury contingent. Referee Michael Jones, after brief consultation, opted for a yellow—much to the frustration of the visitors and audible relief among the home supporters.

If either side deserved three points, neither found the moment of inspiration required. The final whistle arrived as much a release as a conclusion; players on both sides exchanged exhausted handshakes, acutely aware of the chance missed but also the point gained.

For Exmouth, the result preserves their position in fourth place, now on 17 points from nine matches—a tally that keeps them in touch with the automatic promotion places, but adds pressure ahead of a testing October run. Their unbeaten streak in league play now stretches to five, but manager Kevin Hill will know that home draws must soon convert into victories if last year’s heartbreak is to be avoided.

Westbury United, climbing to 14 points and remaining unbeaten in their last three league outings, stay steady in seventh, with games in hand on nearly every side above them. For Jamie Jordan’s men, this stalemate on the road further burnishes their defensive credentials—the second consecutive clean sheet in league play—and signals that, even when goals prove elusive, their season remains very much alive.

In the wider sweep of this division, the afternoon yielded no conclusive answers, yet set the stage for an autumn campaign where margins will matter and every point—won or denied—may ultimately shape each club’s fate. With both sides hungry for momentum and the table still finely balanced, today’s draw serves as both a warning and a promise. The race for promotion remains open, the drama far from finished.