Sidmouth and Ottery Hockey Club’s men’s fifth team lost by the odd goal in their final game before Christmas.

Travelling to Exeter, they took on East Devon in what proved to be a tight encounter, with few clear-cut opportunities to score.

The visiting side had to start the game without their captain, Andy Dockley, who was unavoidably detained, so Steve Ellison took up the role.

SOHC aimed to play some free-flowing hockey from the start and for parts of the match were able to come up to their expectations but some poor control and passes hampered their efforts.

In the second half, with the skipper now in the centre of the action, SOHC endeavoured to put some pressure on the East Devon defence but it was the home side that scored on one of their rare attacks, with a good strike from the edge of the area.

Despite their best efforts, SOHC were unable to get a goal back, with several attacks breaking down before they had really amounted to anything.

The side now takes a break for Christmas and does not return to action until Saturday, January 9, with a home game against Bridgwater.