Ottery St Mary and Topsham Town served up a wonderful advert for East Devon sport on the weekend with a seven-goal thriller in the Devon Football League.

The two sides entered the game locked together in the bottom half of the table, but well clear of lowly Feniton in last place, and with a genuine chance of making inroads on the teams above them in an incredibly tight division.

The outcome was a classic at Washbrook Meadows, which Topsham edged 4-3. Adrian Parr banged in a brace for the Otters, with Jake Boyland also hitting the home net, but Topsham won it with goals from Shay Corrick, Marcus Howe, Frankie Jones and Conor Saunders.

While the final result was cruel on Ottery, their general performance levels have been positive this season and a trip to Plymstock United this weekend should hold no fears for the club. Victory in Plymouth would lift them to level on points with their hosts ahead of a visit from Mount Gould on February 3.

In Division 1 of the Devon & Exeter League, Ottery St Mary 2nds moved into the relative safety of eighth after an impressive 7-0 victory at Dawlish United on the weekend. Daniel MacDonald took the plaudits with a superb four-goal haul, while Harry Cockayne added a brace and Simon Brock completed the scoring.

In the North/East Division of the Devon Women’s Football League, Ottery St Mary Women shared an entertaining 2-2 draw with the University of Exeter.

After a midweek meeting with Ilfracombe Town in the St Luke’s Devon Bowl, Sidmouth Town return to league action with a visit from Okehampton Argyle on Saturday and the Vikings will want an improvement from their frustrating 1-1 draw at lowly Dartmouth on January 13.

Sidmouth’s home game with Teignmouth last weekend was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Manstone Lane but there is still a lot to play for over the final few months of the league campaign.

Despite that Dartmouth draw, Sidmouth sit nicely in sixth place and just three points behind Bridport in third. Ivybridge Town are well clear at the top but the race is on for second, with Crediton currently in the runner-up slot, and the Vikings will know a run of wins could change the picture.