Ottery St Mary need to get three points this weekend against Bickleigh in order to make the most of their Peninsula league run in, writes Lee Glanville.

But manager Dane Bunney has been increasingly frustrated with the side’s inconsistent form.

He said: “I have been building up a wish list of players since Christmas and, in the summer, I will be sitting down with them. I have just targeted centre half Ryan Thomas who has been in Dubai with the Navy and comes back on Monday.

“I will sign him on Tuesday and he will be playing on Saturday. Although, actually, I think I need to sign a load of brickies to build a wall! We just don’t seem to be good enough to play well consistently and I have been concerned about the defence all season, we have let in 64 goals this term, far more than any other team and it is a worry.”

Darryl Johnson has left the club, Bunney feeling that the young player has been struggling in the last few matches.

On Saturday, Ottery ‘deservedly’ lost 5-0 to league leaders Liverton, despite playing much better in the second half, which they started 4-0 down.

Bunney added: “We have put in some good performances against the top teams but then disappointed against those we should be capable of beating, in games where we should be able to take the initiative.

“ I never know which Ottery is going to turn up - the good one or the bad one, It’s very frustrating as it doesn’t seem to matter what I do. But we have a good run-in to the season. Bar Stoke Gabriel - who we drew 2-2 with last time - we have to play all teams lower down the league, including Axminster twice. I know Axminster have been playing much better of late, but it should be our aim to get all six points from them.”

The Ottery end of season target is to finish mid-table - disappointing after the excitement of a high league position early season - but a whole heap better than the troubled club could have expected at the end of last season. It is a close league in the middle positions and two wins now would hurtle Ottery back up to a more respectable position.