Ottery St Mary sit top of the fledgling Macron Devon and Exeter League Division Four table after a 4-2 win at home to Morchard Bishop.

Jake Allen fired the Otters ahead only for the visitors to be gifted an equaliser before the break.

Last season’s leading scorer Tom Collins, who had come off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Tom Bennett, rifled the Otters back into the lead.

Adam Harris added a third and, after the visiting side had scored a second – very much against the run of play – teenager Kyle Hartnell put a polished finish on a fine individual performance with the game’s sixth and final goal.

Otters boss Dave Fairweather said: “We did not play as well as we can, but then we played comfortably well enough to win the game and that is something to be very pleased about.”

The Otters boss continued: “The lads are working hard in training and are now seeing just why we do so much in the midweek sessions as we reap the benefit of it on a Saturday afternoon.

“Sandford will be a different challenge, but one I am sure we will meet head on. We know plenty about them, but they’ll also know all about us. I am surprised to see that they have lost both their opening games and have a minus eight goal difference, but that counts for little at this early stage of the new campaign.

“What is important on Saturday is that the lads carry out the tasks they are asked to do. If they do that then I am very confident the post match mood in the clubhouse will once again be of the happy variety.”

The Ottery St Mary ladies play their first game in the Devon Ladies’ League Division One on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Keyham Kolts (3pm).

The Ottery ladies make their home bow the Sunday after (September 18) when they host Shaldon Villa (3pm).