MORWENSTOW secured a vital 3-2 victory over Combe Martin in the North Devon Premier Division on Saturday, climbing off the foot of the table after a hard-fought contest at Shop Playing Field.

After weeks of relentless rain, the surface was finally deemed playable, though conditions made flowing football difficult.

Despite the conditions, the home team started brightly and carved out several chances in the opening period. However, the it was the visitors who struck first with a well-worked move to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

The second half was an even affair, with both sides probing and forcing saves from the opposing goalkeepers.

The deadlock finally broke just before the hour when a miscued effort from Jake Gilbert drifted across the face of goal and fell kindly for Ben Pengilly, who reacted quickest at the back-post to tap home the equaliser.

With the match seemingly heading for a stalemate, Morwenstow found another gear in the closing stages. Ten minutes from time, Toby Trewin delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area and youngster Owen Lloyd rose to guide a looping header into the bottom corner, putting the Greens ahead for the first time.

With the momentum firmly with the hosts, Morwenstow struck again five minutes later. Gilbert chased down a through ball, showed composure in front of goal and calmly slotted past the advancing keeper for 3-1.

There was late anxiety when Combe Martin pulled a goal back in the final two minutes, setting up a tense finish, but Morwenstow held firm through the closing moments to claim all three points and lift themselves off the bottom.

In the same division, Holsworthy Reserves’ first league outing since January ended with a 3-0 defeat at home to third-placed Landkey Town, a result which leaves the Magpies fourth bottom, but just a point ahead of Morwenstow.