A first half hat-trick from Finn Upsher helped Ottery St Mary Under-13s to an emphatic 8-0 Washbrook Meadows win over Cullompton Rangers.

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery St Mary Under-13s who have made a superb start to the season, winning six successive matches. Picture CONTRIBUTEDOttery St Mary Under-13s who have made a superb start to the season, winning six successive matches. Picture CONTRIBUTED (Image: Archant)

The win, a sixth successive victory, keeps Addy Carpenter’s side in fourth spot in the table, four points behind leaders Moors.

Ottery made a flying start, but, despite some promising approach play, they seemed to have left their finishing skills in the dressing room.

However, that all changed in the 20th minute when f Upsher weaved his way down the left flank before tucking it inside to Freddie Clark and, when his shot was blocked, Upsher was on hand to drill the ball home.

The visitors carried a very real physical threat with their forward line, but this was dealt with superbly by the combined efforts of Rowan Hewitt, Fin Lashbrook, Tom Bennett and Sam Gleeson, who were collectively superb in defence.

The lead was doubled when Upsher latched onto a defence-splitting through-ball and then lifted the ball up and over the advancing goalkeeper.

Cully hit back and only a fine save, low to his right, by Ottery glovesman Jack Hembrow, denied the Mid Devon men a goal back.

Upsher completed a 30-minute hat-trick, bursting down the left before tucking the ball home for this 13th goal of the season.

Coach Carpenter rang the changes just before the break, bringing on the impressive Shaw Browning, Dan Wright, Alfie Gibbins and Fin Giles.

Browning demonstrated the strength in depth that this Ottery age group has when he was on hand to apply an assured finish from 15-yards after Ollie Milton had burst into the box, and Ottery trooped off at the break with a 4-0 lead.

Early in the second half, Jack Carpenter scored his second goal in as many games to make it 5-0 and two minutes later winger George Durham found Upsher in the box and the Ottery striker unselfishly laid the ball off to Freddie Clarke, who tucked it home for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Man of the Match, Sam Gleeson, made it 7-0 with a fine volley from a teasing Jake Blackmore cross, before Milton made it eight from the spot after Upsher was upended in the box.

Coach Carpenter said: “I was so impressed with the boys. Their first half performance was brilliant and they kept the tempo up during the second 35 minutes.”