Ottery St Mary were beaten for the first time in a Fresha League Division Six game when they went down 2-0 at Newton St Cyres.
The Otters went into the game without striker Adam Harris and were further hamstrung with the loss of influential skipper Phil Paddison to a head injury that saw him leave the game after one-third of the action – he received a number of stitches in the wound in hospital.
The Mid Devon outfit have a small home pitch and this certainly played a part on the day as the Otters so much prefer a wider pitch – as their Washbrook Meadow home provides. The home side also defended exceptionally well on the day.
The defeat does not make much different to the Otters title challenge and everyone else in the division has already lost a couple of matches.
However, they now face back-to-back meetings with one of their main rivals for the top honour, Alphington, and so the picture at the top of the table may look very different in a fortnight’s time!
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here