Ottery St Mary’s assault on trophies this season continued with a midweek Grandisson Cup triumph over Otterton.

It was another sparkling performance by the Otters as they despatched a side that sit on top of the Fresha League Division Five table, one level above the one the Otters play in.

Boss Mike Dawe is delighted with the progress his team are making and is keen for it to go on, and on!

He says: “We really did play well to see off a very well-organised Otterton team. Winning trophies is not to be sniffed at. However, for me it is all about the bigger picture which is very much the long-term health of our football club. I am very keen that we continue to give youth a chance and that is being reflected in the fact that for the game with Dunkeswell at home tomorrow (March 14) we will have two members of the club’s Under-16 team sitting on the bench.

“That’s not by accident either – more a case of design – as I am very keen to blood the youngsters just as soon as we can do it. We are fortunate at Ottery to have such a well-run youth section and the bottom line has to be that we continue to offer opportunities for good young footballers, ideally local ones, to ultimately play in the club’s senior teams.”

The Otters are well set to gain divisional honours and, with the restructuring of the Fresha Devon and Exeter League to accommodate step seven status, there may well be an opportunity for the club to climb a level - or two - at the end of the season.

Dawe says: “Long term I’d obviously like to see the club playing at the highest level possible and, for the time being, that has to be for us to get as high up the Fresha League as we can.

“We have the infrastructure in place to move forward with a successful football team, the youth system is running well and we are drawing more and more supporters to Washbrook Meadow on match days.

“That said, the players know I will not allow anyone to rest on their laurels. I’ll not be satisfied until we have this club where I feel it ought to be.”

Tomorrow’s game with Dunkeswell Rovers kicks-off at 3pm.