EXMOUTH Town manager Jody Bolt concedes he cannot see reigning champions Liverton United slipping up as they look to retain their Division One East crown.

Bolt's side trail the leaders by six points having played the same number of games, and also have an inferior goal-difference ahead of their trip to Appledore on Saturday.

And with Town having lost 1-0 at home to Liverton in their last match, Bolt admits his side face a mammoth task in wrestling the title from the leaders.

"First place is by no means out of the question, but Liverton are six points clear with superior goal difference, so you can call that seven points," he said. "Are they going to lose three games? I doubt it. Second place would still be a huge achievement for the club, although there are a lot of clubs which have designs on that too.

"We have also struggled to train recently due to the weather and I haven't seen some players in over two weeks, so that doesn't help.

"They (Appledore) play their pitch – which has a big slope on it – very well and they are probably the best-supported team in the division.

"They have done very well this season too. I think they lost a lot of players but have brought in lots of new ones and they are doing very well."

Crediton United manager Warren Patmore admits another postponement was not what he wanted at the weekend, but it does now mean he has a fully-fit squad for Saturday's big match against Liverton United.

Kirton were due to take on Exmouth Town on Saturday, but the cold snap meant the game was called off.

Patmore made it clear he wanted to play having not had a match in more than two weeks, but he conceded there were some advantages to having an enforced break.

"It is certainly a pain in the backside, but I just try and look at the positives," he said.

"It now means we have players back and available to play when they might have missed games.

"Jamie Densham suffered a couple of broken ribs against Ottery and I thought he would miss a couple of games but he is back now without missing one.

"A win against Liverton would mean two things. First, it would give us the three points on offer and second, if you can beat the champions then it gives your team a real boost.

"It was a shame when we played them earlier in the season at our place because we scored four but conceded seven."

In other games, Exeter University travel to Alphington, Budleigh Salterton host Totnes & Dartington, Exeter Civil Service entertain Galmpton United, Okehampton Argyle go to Newton Abbot Spurs, and Axminster Town visit Stoke Gabriel.