There have been many ups and downs for Ottery St Mary Football Club over the past 18 months, promotion to the South-West Peninsula League, the loss of half their team and the manager, and now consolidation in the Devon Football League.
While the turbulence has been deeply unsettling for the men’s squad, there has been pleasing stability on the women’s side of the club and the successful youth system.
The latest example of brighter days ahead for the Otters came with the U18 side booking their place in the League Cup semi-finals with an excellent 3-1 victory over Clyst Valley.
The opening goal arrived on 19 minutes, when Neil Quessou sprinted forward from right-back and picked up a clever pass from Joel Jackson. Quessou skipped past a covering defender and delivered a lovely cross for Luke Paramore to steer a controlled volley beyond the Clyst goalkeeper.
Strong defending from Charlie Parker halted Clyst attempts for an immediate riposte and it was then over to goalkeeper Russ Bracey to produce some of his best work in denying an equaliser.
Ottery took their slender lead into the half-time break and restarted with tremendous intensity, deservedly extending their advantage when Jack Drew-Cull won the ball in midfield.
Captain Jake Haggerty took over possession and clipped a sweet pass wide for the ever-dangerous Makan Coulibaly, who set himself with a terrific first touch and then executed a sublime lob over the stranded Clyst custodian.
The Otters forced a couple more good saves from the overworked goalkeeper before Clyst found a foothold in the game, breaching the Ottery defence to reduce the scores to 2-1. It was a goal their performance warranted and set up a tense finale.
To their immense credit, Ottery did not sit back and try to defend their lead, instead taking the game to Clyst and the positive approach was rewarded with a match-clinching third.
Coulibaly started the move, feeding a pass wide to Paramore, who quickly spotted the ‘keeper off his line and pinged another super finish into the back of the net. Charlie Parker was named man of the match.
Ottery U18s move on to a semi-final clash with Pinhoe Spartans and, on this evidence, the future is looking secure at Washbrook Meadows.
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