EXMOOR Rangers stormed to their first win of the season when they thrashed bottom club Old Inn 8-3 at home in the first division of the Taunton Saturday Football League.

The game started off in the balance as Exmoor looked to find a foothold in the game, frantic football from both teams giving neither sets of supporters much to cheer about. Eventually, Exmoor’s long ball tactics paid off as the pacey Adam Barker was able to get behind the Old Inn defence, squaring to Sam Price for his second goal in as many games.

Just one minute after Exmoor’s opener Old Inn were level, a fantastic solo run down the left flank followed by a smart finish - leaving Corbett and a number of defenders helplessly in his wake. Exmoor struggled to find any rhythm as they looked to restore their lead before half time.

Brilliance from Barker helped Exmoor find the goal they so desperately wanted as he danced through the visiting defence before finishing from a tight angle. Old Inn rallied as they looked to reduce the deficit, Shane Corbett called into action on a couple of occasions in the Rangers goal mouth.

It was the hosts who struck again, however, as George Barnfield played an impeccably weighted pass over to release Price yet again who finished with aplomb on his weaker left foot. Exmoor rallied at half time, scoring soon after the restart; Barker once again with a composed finish to make the score 4-1.

The visitors were once again able to hit back to reduce the deficit before Barker - completing his hat trick - put Exmoor out of sight once more. Barker was then sent to the sin bin for descent after a reckless, last man challenge left him in a heap while bearing down on the Old Inn goal once more.

Exmoor being down to ten had no effect as the visitors failed to capitalise. They did, howeve,r manage to pull another back after Barker’s re-inclusion, a Harry Kivell clearance striking Old Inn’s forward in the face before fortunately looping past Corbett to make the score 5-3. Hope was extinguished, however, as Aaron Scott extended Rangers’ lead before Joel Bradford finished smartly from a Todd Willis corner for his first Exmoor goal.

George Barnfield swept up the man of the match after a mercurial performance at left back as he pulled the strings from deep to dismantle the visiting defence. A number of Exmoor players could’ve taken the honours, Price and Barker for their goals and Todd Willis for his energy and creativity in midfield among the other shouts.