Ottery St Mary completed the first half of their Macron League Division Four season with a 2-1 home success over Countess Wear.

Despite the close score line, the contest itself was anything but close as Otters boss Dave Fairweather alluded to saying: “It was so one-sided that had we got ten I doubt anyone watching would have been surprised.

“However, our finishing certainly did not match our approach play – had it done so then we’d have been out of sight by half-time.”

Fairweather continued: “Some of the play was of the highest quality and what pleased me most was the way we pressed fast and hard high up the pitch which meant that whenever the ball was lost we had it back in our possession in double quick time.”

A Tom Collins goal was all the Otters had to show for a first half display that was fluent and full of quality – until the final third!

After the break Jake Allen doubled the lead before a now trademark individual defensive error allowed the visitors to halve the deficit and set up a thoroughly uncomfortable last 10 minutes.

The Otters survived to seal their sixth win in 12 league outings to stay fourth in the table.

Fairweather said: “It was unfortunate that we had not been able to put the game to be when they scored their 80th minute goal.

“That then meant they had a spring in their step for the final minutes and it was a nervous one from our point of view.

“There were two abject lessons for the lads again on Saturday.

“One is the importance of taking our chances and making sure, when we are on top, we get the goals our general play deserves and the second lesson is with regard to the continued problem of individual errors in importance defensive areas.

“Thankfully there was just the one on Saturday, but it would be nice to have 90 minutes without one!”

The importance of the result was not lost on the Otters boss who said: “It was vital that we put more distance between us and them [Countess Wear].

“I have said before I feel we are as good as anyone at this level and, given that the current top three look nailed on to take the top three slots, we need to keep winning and make sure that if anyone of them do slip up we are in pole position to take their place.

“It may well be that fourth place gains promotion and, if that is the case, then we simply must make sure that spot is ours – at the very least.”

Fairweather summed up the mood after half the league saying: “There’s an air of confidence about the side now in and out of the dressing room. We have now had back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

“Now the mission has to be to turn two successive wins into three with victory this weekend at University - here’s hoping.”