Ottery Crickets 1st X1 6 Sidmouth 1st X1 2

This had the makings of a classic local derby coupled with the fact that both teams were firmly rooted at the foot of the Davis Premier 3 league and so it proved. Ottery were quick out of the blocks and took an early lead through Jack Pritchard on 6 minutes. The introduction of veteran Mark Moore in the 7th minute proved pivotal as with his second touch he extended his teams lead to

2-0. Sidmouth were clearly rocked by the positive way Crickets were taking the game to their visitors and seemingly had no match to the home teams pacier approach play. Andy Welch made some penetration into the home teams defensive zone but these rare attacks were comfortably dealt with by Oli Tallowin, Nick Goode, Ben Foley and Duncan Gracie.

Matt Kirk increased the Crickets lead on 20 minutes when good play between himself and Matt Sheaves resulted in the former slotting the ball home with consumate ease. 4 minutes later Kirk bagged his second with a pin-point shot into the corner of the goal from a short corner.

Welch seemed to offer Sidmouth their only viable attempts at goal and it was his close control and skill that drew Otterys' Archie Fraser into a late tackle, three minutes before half time, resulting in the award of a penalty stroke. Welch converted this to make the score 4-1 at half time.

Sidmouth started the second half looking more organised, with Ottery old boy Scott Rowson happy to mastermind the midfield attacks, but once again Ottery were happy to sit back and pick their opponents off Ottery did concede three short corners but it wasn't until the 52nd minute that another Ottery old boy, Chris Lewis scored, much to the delight of family and fans on the sideline!

Otterys response was immediate and within two minutes Moore went face to face with his old team mate Rowson before slipping the ball to Jimmy Harris who with all the time in the world slotted the ball home. At 5-2 Sidmouth were down and out. Moore thought he had bagged his second when he jabbed the ball home from close range, but after much protestation from Sidmouth the umpires disallowed the goal. However, two minutes later he did convert from a short corner.

So an invaluable three points for Ottery which takes them 6 points clear of their neighbours. Ottery travel away to Marlborough this Saturday and Sidmouth travel to Cardiff.