Otters write off defeat due to illness in the camp
OTTERY St Mary had to write off Saturday’s 4-0 defeat, home to Exeter Uni, before a ball was even kicked as illness swamped the 23-strong squad.
Manager Dane Bunney, who was suffering himself, was down to the bare bones of a team when three players pulled out ill on Saturday morning.
“It is impossible to work like that,” Bunney said. “We had so many players with colds, flu, stomach bugs and chest infections that I was seriously concerned we would have to concede the fixture.”
In the end, they were able to play, with just 11 players turning out at Washbrook Meadows for what turned out to be the Students’ end of term party.
Bunney has high hopes that the Otters’ lean spell could end on Saturday when they travel to Teignmouth.
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It is a good set up at Teignmouth, but the pitch is on the small side, so Bunney hopes it will help his men keep the game tight.
“We are on a bad run at the moment. Even other teams must be wondering which Ottery will turn up. We just need to get some sort of decent form running again. I know we can do it, everyone who has seen us play knows we can do it, but we just need to turn the corner.
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Ottery have a big Boxing Day fixture at home to struggling Axminster with an 11am kick off. A win on Saturday would set the side up nicely for that match.
