Axminster Reserves maintained their three point lead at the top of the Devon & Exeter League Division Two East with a 4-3 win over mid-tablers Cranbrook.

With Cranbrook having won just two of their opening seven games, the Tigers were expecting a more comfortable afternoon at Tiger Way.

After the heavy rain, the Axminster ground staff worked the socks off to get the pitch playable and it turned out to be a tough game against a strengthened Cranbrook side who were leading 2-1 at the interval.

This was not Axminster's best performance by any means but they turned it round in the second half to win by the odd goal in seven. In the end, goals from Sam Wilson and Charlie Wilson, who each grabbed a brace, delivered the points.

Axminster manager Dan Prettejohn was grateful for the points to keep their lead at the top of the table but was impressed by Cranbrook who he thinks will do well this season.

Ottery maintained their challenge with a comfortable 8-0 win over struggling Exmouth United who have conceded 21 goals in their three matches this season.

On Saturday Axminster Reserves are scheduled to play Bishops Blaize who are lying in the bottom half of Division Two East with seven points from six games. But it is doubtful there will be any local football due to the new coronavirus lockdown until after December 2nd.

Axminster 1st X1, having had an enforced two-week break due to a COVID-19 scare, were hoping to be back in action at Tiger Way against Plymouth Marjon who sit just two places above the Tigers at the foot of the league with nine points from 14 games, having conceded 42 goals, the second highest total in the league.

Manager Josh Stunnell would have been be looking at this fixture as a golden opportunity to kick-start the Tigers' league season with just two league wins so far this season out of ten games.