Falmouth Town boss Andrew Westgarth was happy to see his under-strength side secure Walter C Parson League Cup progress on Saturday.

Tim Nixon and Jack Bowyer scored as Town came from behind to beat Brixham 2-1 in a rain-sodden affair at Bickland Park.

Town were without a number of first-team players for the game, including first-choice goalkeeper Ryan Barnes and striker Matt Buchan.

Westgarth said: “I didn’t want to make any excuse today [Saturday] because you could have ticked any box, you could have said tough conditions, missing five, team we don’t know, underdogs, you could have had every cliché going. The main thing for us was just getting into the next round of the cup.”

It is back to South West Peninsula League Premier matters for Town on Saturday as they make the trip to Exmouth Town, who, despite finishing 16th last season, are riding high in fifth place and are just three points behind second-placed Tavistock with a game in hand.

Exmouth are just one of five tough opponents during a difficult December for third-placed Town, who are set to face the other four teams in the top five as well as in-form local rivals Helston Athletic.

“The fixtures have been really unkind for us,” Westgarth said. “We’ve got a really tough December, you know, Exmouth, we’ve got Tavvy [Tavistock] after that, we’ve got Saltash in there, then Ivybridge, Argyle and Helston so we couldn’t have asked for a tougher December really, but that’s what happens when you play this level of football or at the right end of the table, we want to be in those big games.

“I don’t think Exmouth played today [Saturday] so that could be a good thing or a bad thing I don’t know, but we’re really looking forward to it.”

Westgarth also paid tribute to departing player Tom Annear, who bids farewell to Bickland Park after two and a half years after agreeing to re-join former club Porthleven.

He said: “From our point of view, to replace a player like Tom is very difficult. He plays in multiple positions and he’s been at the club for three seasons now so obviously disappointed to lose him but wish him all the best at Porthleven.”

Westgarth also reserved praise for young defender Jackson Penhallurick, who made his debut for Town as a late sub on Saturday.

“He’s a player we definitely had our eye on,” Westgarth said. “It’s good experience for him to get on the pitch and hopefully one he can look back on in fond memories.”