Ottery St Mary are without a game this Saturday (November 5) owing to the annual Tar Barrels’ event in the town.

However, the Otters will still train and manager Dave Fairweather expects a full turnout from his squad as he says: “If players are hoping to play the following week then I expect to see them at Washbrook Meadow for the training session!”

Last Saturday the Otters were beaten by the odd goal in three by visiting Thorverton.

The game was as close as the score line suggests and Fairweather felt his side deserved something out of the contest.

The Otters boss said: “We were beaten by two long-distance shots and you cannot legislate for that.

“Indeed, I can’t recall a single occasion when they go behind us top create a clear cut close-range scoring opportunity which speaks volumes for the discipline and organisation of our defence.

“I felt sorry for the lads at the end of the game for we did enough to get something out of it.”

Thorverton broke the deadlock on the hour mark after which the Otters were soon back onto the front foot, but they paid the price for missing a large number of scoring opportunities and fell two down to a long-range strike from the tightest of angles.

Skipper-for-the-day Chris Ambrose gave the Otters hope and they did throw everything they had in an attempts to wrestle something from the game, but again chances went begging and time ran out on them.

Fairweather said: “The only complaint I can put forward from the game is that our finishing let us down. We must have had six very good chances at one down and had any of the six gone on I am convinced we’d have gone on to win.

“That underlines how thin the margins are.”

The Otters boss continued: “It’s a blow as I am realistic enough to know that e can’t afford to lose too many more if we are to end the season in a promotion spot. Of course, at the start of the campaign the ‘p’ [promotion] word was not on the agenda as I always saw this as a season of consolidation. However, it is my vision to take this club as high as we can get it and certainly the off-pitch activity this term has been consistent with the club being at a higher level and we will continue to look to improve on the pitch to match the great work going on off it.

“All that said though, I must reiterate my passionate belief that we need to do our growing and developing organically as I want the bedrock of the Ottery St Mary team to be locally-based players and, ideally, ones that have come up through the ranks here at the club. The other huge element I refuse to lose sight of is the need for us to be community focussed in everything we do. We are certainly getting there and will continue to strive to taking the club as high as we can go.”

The Otters are back in action on Saturday, November 12, when the Washbrook Meadow opposition will be Kentisbeare.

Fairweather says: “It’s a terrific game for us to look to bounce back from a match day off following a narrow defeat. The fact that we took Thorverton as close as we did and they are now played five won five in the divisions suggests we are getting something right.”