OTTERY ST Mary footballers are looking forward to tomorrow’s Devon Premier Cup third round clash with Budleigh Salterton at Greenway Lane and are hoping that the fixture beats the weather.

“It will be the biggest game we have played,” said manager Dane Bunney.

“We aren’t afraid of Budleigh, we have been having a bad run of results lately but haven’t been playing badly. The foundation of our team is just being laid now and we will press forward. There have been massive improvements going on at the club and we hope to keep the momentum going.”

He will also have the assistance of new signing, defender John Veal, 37.

Veal, who has been signed from the Royal Marines, will add much needed experience and stability to a young looking defence at Butts Road.

While the signing is completed, Veal may be cup tied for the Devon Cup match. Even if he doesn’t play he will be in the changing rooms pre-match and will be watching the game, which will help him form strategies when he starts for the side. Bunney added: “We have a young side and to have a player of his ability to be there to direct the youngsters and to pick them up if they are having a bad 10 minutes will be fantastic.”

His experience would have made a big difference in last week’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bickleigh away in Peninsula League East action.

Bickleigh scored first, but Ottery were level shortly afterwards thanks to a terrific 25 yard volley launched by Michael Burke which rose over the keeper.

Ottery pushed forward and were caught - by a mistake in defence - right at the death when Bickleigh scored again. “It was a real Christmas present,” Bunney added. “ We didn’t play badly. Most of the first half play was in their half and our keeper didn’t really have anything to do in the second half, bar pick the ball out of the net twice.”