By Billy Taylor

Cleeve were in control for most of the match, and Liddiard’s first-half header from a pinpoint Toby Holland cross was enough for the Mitres to take all three points against the Town and puts the home side back into the playoff spots. 

Early on, Holland had a go from outside the box, testing Aaron Dearing’s waters, but the keeper was well prepared.  

Ben Mclean saw an opportunity to get the ball into the box to Ross Langworthy, who was duelling with his man in the box, but the captain was just a hair off getting to the ball.  

Cleeve were demanding, but Exmouth were keeping up with the hosts' pace, but Joe Keeping was menacing, and he almost got the ball through to Langworthy from a low cross on the left-hand side, which ended up going into the hands of Dearing instead.  

The Mitres finally made their much-deserved breakthrough when Holland’s corner saw Liddiard jump up high and thunder the ball into the back of the net. 

Langworthy came close just before half time, as Joe Jeremiah played the forward through, but the striker’s shot went just over the keeper’s front post. 

The start of the second half continued from the first, with Josh Nelmes putting in a cross to Jack Watts; the forward got a touch and tried to run around the defence to get his shot off to no avail. The ball then reached Holland, whose effort was wide of the mark. 

A three-minute spell from Cleeve saw them come extremely close to a second. Holland’s ball to Langworthy started it all with Captain Fantastic beating his man to get off a shot, but Dearing makes a fantastic save.  

Watts collected the ball on the edge of the box and forced the Exmouth keeper back into action. 

The attacker then finds himself through on goal moments later, but his shot just narrowly goes towards the woodwork. With that miss, the Mitres definitely had their heads on Mars for how they hadn't made it two.  

Jay Malshanskyj came on and showed his pace down the left-hand side before getting the ball inside the box, where Michael Landricombe spilt the ball towards his own net, as the captain almost conceded a late own goal. 

Oliver Knowles had a free kick in a good position late on as Kayte Lane held its breath. The free kick was taken, and Clayton made the save across his goal line to make the save and put the Mitres into the playoff spots. 

Cleeve are away to Larkhall next Saturday, as they look to go on a good run of form into Christmas.