Ottery enjoy flying start to the season

It has been a hugely encouraging start to life in the Peninsula League for Ottery St Mary, recording their third win in four games with a 2-1 success at home to Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police in midweek.
Played in front of 108 fans at Washbrook Meadows, Ottery were out of the blocks very quickly, opening the scoring when Marcus Fanson finished off a pass from Josh Hannaford.
The lead was doubled when Fanson slotted in the rebound from a Sam Stewart effort that had been well saved. The visitors did pull a goal back 10 minutes from time but Ottery held on to move into seventh in the table.
The midweek triumph followed on from a thrilling encounter at Elburton Villa on Saturday, as the Otters just edged their hosts in a 4-3 cracker.
Elburton took the lead after a rare defensive slip from Ottery but the response was rapid. Marcus Fanson was denied by an offside flag, as the Otters began to lay siege on the Elburton goal, but credit to the hosts for clinging on to their lead until half-time.
After the break, however, there was no stopping the Ottery juggernaut. A cross from Fanson caused mayhem in the Villa box and Hannaford was in the right place to slam home a deserved equaliser.
Ottery continued piling forward and Liam Carey was denied by a fine save before Elburton regained their lead with a terrific volley.
Luka Nickles emerged from the Ottery bench and his fresh legs were pivotal, as he flicked a fine pass into the path of Fanson, who calmly rounded the home ‘keeper to make it 2-2.
The Otters finally got their noses in front when a free-kick from James Fanson was saved on the stretch, and Ben Lawrence reacted first to convert the rebound.
With confidence flowing, the Otters produced a fabulous move that ended with Tiernan West laying a pass for Liam Carey to rifle a fabulous strike past Elburton’s beleaguered custodian. Villa did a pull goal back but all three points went to Ottery.
It is another home game for Ottery this weekend, as they host mid-table Torridgeside.