Ottery St Mary FC earned a valuable point from their match with Exeter University thanks to a 1-1 draw, and manager Andy Phillips is confident he is on his way to having a settled squad.

Exeter University 1

Ottery St Mary 1

Peninsula League Div One East

Ottery St Mary FC earned a valuable point from their match with Exeter University thanks to a 1-1 draw, and manager Andy Phillips is confident he is on his way to having a settled squad to field.

He said: "It was a good performance and it was all us really. We had a lot of the play but just couldn't score. I am hoping to have an out-and-out centre forward signed in time for next week's match."

But this was a good battling performance against the students, Ottery gaining a lot of confidence from new goalkeeper John Wannell.

Wannell has been sub goalkeeper at Tiverton but has kept in touch with Phillips over the last 12 months.

"He is a great young prospect, his distribution is superb," Phillips added.

Other new signings to make a show were James Ibbeson and Olly Bird, who came on as sub.

This week Ross Casey, who has been playing at Teignmouth, should make his debut.

"His transfer has been ok'd by Teignmouth and I am hopeful he will be available to play on Saturday," said Phillips, who added: "I am in talks to sign a centre forward and then that will be my squad.

"It has only been about four or five weeks since I started at Ottery and I am pleased with how it is going. We have lots to work on in training but we are only five points away from getting off the bottom of the league which is my aim. I am sure it won't be long before we achieve that."

Ottery have a tough task this weekend as they host Appledore, the team who were top of the Carlsberg Peninsula League East until Wednesday night, when they were superceded by Exeter Civil Service.