BOVEY Tracey are just about safe from the threat of relegation from the Premier Division after they beat visiting Exmouth by four-wickets.

Bovey went into the game with just one win in their previous six outings and hovering just above the drop spots.

Beating Exmouth was a step in the right direction – and defeats for fellow strugglers Plymouth and Cornwood helped too.

Bovey are now 19 points clear of the relegation places with one game and 20 points to go.

One point off Heathcoat this Saturday is all Bovey need to be 100 per cent safe, which should be in their scope.

Exmouth laboured to 178 all out in the 46th of their 50 overs – Husnan Kazmirescuring them from an unimpressive 64 or six with a solid knock of 44.

Sandy Allen has made 22 in the only knock of note before Kazmi settled in.

The damage was done by former Devon captain Chris Bradley, who ran through the early order on his way to figures of five for 26.

A combination of work commitments and family ties have restricted Bradley to just four games this season. Bovey skipper Sam Hickinbottom must wonder how the season would have panned out had Bradley been able to play more regularly.

Kazmi and Lawrence Greenway (27) put on 61 for the seventh wicket to get Exmouth moving again.

By the time Kazmi was ninth out on 178, George Greenway (19) and Alvin Pollard (15no) had helped him add another 54.

On a good day for spin bowlers, Bovey’s young Devon prospect Toby Codd had three for 42.

Bovey got just the start they didn’t want when George Greenway nipped out Malcolm Lake and Peter Bradley for 19 on the board.

Rob Honeybul dropped anchor for an 82-ball knock of 30 that took Bovey to 117 for four. Matt Golding (29) chipped in.

Andy Fairbairn (34no) and Andy Lake (16) whittled away a further 28 before Lawrence Greenway (2-26) broke the stand.

Codd’s 22 took Bovey to the brink of the win they needed so badly.

Golding, standing in as captain for the injured Hickinbottom, said he was always confident Bovey would come good before it was too late.

“I was always confident we had a good performance in us going into the last few games,” said Golding.

“But when it's close with a few matches left, cricket can be a funny game, so there is relive also.

“Chris Bradley bowled fantastically, which showed as all his wickets were top-six batters