Ottery St Mary head for St Martins on Saturday (February 11) for what is a ‘must win’ game.

When the Exminster-based side visited Washbrook Meadow back in October they were beaten 3-0.

Otters boss Dave Fairweather says: “It’s a ‘must win’ game and as long as our state of mind is right then I am sure we will have enough about us to bring back all three points.”

The Otters chief continued: “The lad showed at home last Saturday in the win over Uplowman that, when we have a big open pitch we can move the ball crisply and our superior fitness means we are able to keep the momentum going through until the final whistle. That makes us very difficult to play against.

“However, more often than not this season we have turned up at a venue thinking we are going to win, seen the pitch or with a gale blowing and immediately our mindset changes dramatically.

“No matter what we are faced with upon arrival at St Martins, we need to be focussed only on our game and confident that we will get the basics right.

“If we do that, then the rest will follow.”

With regular glovesman Hugh Court still out and stand-in glovesman Ben Rushton missing, Duncan Smith takes over in goal for the Otters at St Martins.

One other absentee from the team that beat Uplowman with late goals is one of the scorers, Jake Allen.

Fairweather says: “Jake [Allen] came off in the second half last Saturday and he is a big miss for us as he has such an influence on the way we play.

“That said, it’s a chance for someone else to step in and do a job for us.

“I know our away record is poor this season, but we need to put aside what has gone on before. We have only four matches left to make sure we get as many points as we can to hopefully continue making progress on the pitch to match the efforts off it.

“It will be tough at St Martins, but, as long we remember to get our mental state correct, I am confident we will win the game.”