Ottery St Mary were denied all three points in their opening Macron League Division Four game when visiting Priory netted with an 85th minute equaliser.

After the goal there was still time for the Otters to twice carve open the Prior back line, but both chances were missed.

Adam Harris scored the goal that looked to be taking the Otters to the three points.

However, the action became less football and more physical as the referee had to use his red card three times following an ‘off-the-ball’ incident! Priory finished with nine men and the Otters ten.

Otters’ boss Dave Fairweather said: “I’ll take a point. It was the first competitive game of the season and the key is not to lose.

“The first half was a battle, but we settled down well in the second half and, at times, played some football that was very good on the eye.

“The sending-offs were unfortunate and spoiled an otherwise decent first game of the season.”

He continued: “Without wishing to sound like a cracked record I do have one buzz word and that is attitude.

“To me, attitude is a big part of the game. I was pleased to see a good attitude from each one of the players in our side, particularly after the break.

“On another day we’d have won that game and I saw plenty to build on.”

Fairweather has a particular way he likes to play the game and says: “I am a fan of the ‘play the ball from the back’ school of thinking.

“We are fortunate to have a superb surface to play on at Washbrook Meadow and it’d be a crime to not look to play a passing game on it!

?Last Saturday the Otters produced a match programme and they’ll have another for this latest game - next week in the Ottery Herald we will bring you details - and a picture - of what is a splendid local football publication.