Ottery St Mary kept their first away clean sheet of the season when they drew 0-0 at Otterton in their latest Macron League Division Four outing.

However, as good as the clean sheet was, it was the first time this season that the Otters have failed to find the net!

One factor, without doubt, is that the Otters made the short trip to Otterton missing seven regulars.

Otters boss Dave Fairweather said: “They [Otterton] are an unforgiving side. We were subjected to some pretty physical stuff and it was no surprise to me when we lost two players in quick succession to second half injuries.”

The Otters have not won away since a November 19, 5-4 win at Morchard Bishop – that one of just two away wins in league and cup all season for the Otters.

Fairweather says of the away record: “It’s a tough one to call given how good our home record is. But then there’s a marked difference between the wide open spaces at Washbrook Meadow and the smaller pitches of say Sandford and Pinhoe [Hamlyn Lane, Exeter].

“We are a team that plays with the ball on the ground and at high-tempo and when you go away to a smaller pitch, which, at this time of year, is invariably soft, it makes a passing game very difficult to execute.”

“We have struggled to find consistency this season, but I can see that progress is continuing to be made and that’s the name of the game for us at this club – ongoing progress.”