Ottery St Mary’s Macron League campaign hit a new low as they slipped to a third successive defeat, going down 2-1 to Otterton.

The loss follows a similar reversal at home to table-topping Priory - the Otters have now lost four of their five home games this season - and a 5-0 thrashing at Sandford.

For Otters boss Dave Fairweather the recent results have been disappointing, but he has been happier with the all-round team performance.

He says: “Hand on heart there is no way we deserved to lose to Otterton. The team performance was good. Granted it was not perfect, but we had the chances to have had the game sewn up by half-time. Then we make a classic individual error before they score a ‘worldy’, but that’s the way it’s rolling for us right now.”

The Otters took a first-half lead through skipper Curtis Winchcombe and carried the advantage into the break. Then came an individual error followed by a superb finish.

Fairweather said: “All we can do is keep working hard and hope that our fortunes change. We have the quality and lately I have seen the effort and team work, now we just need a dollop of good fortune - and better finishing in front of goal.”

The Otters head to Tipton looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat, but they travel without the services of James Gosney, Jordan Wilkinson and Jonny De Cruz.