Ottery St Mary Under-13s moved into a top three berth in the Exeter and District Youth League with a 6-1 success away at Crediton.

The in-form Otters made it three successive victories thanks to a terrific first 35 minutes and a first-half hat-trick from the prolific Finn Upsher.

In a bright start, the Otters were denied a fifth minute opener when the impressive Jake Blackmore provided a pin-point cross that was headed home by Upsher, only for a linesman’s flag to rule the ‘goal’ out for off-side.

Winger George Durham was causing Crediton problems down the left, but the home side also carried a threat and they spurned an 11th minute chance when their centre forward blazed over the bar when well placed.

The opening goal arrived in the 17th minute with Jack Carpenter providing the assist for Upsher to put the Otters ahead.

The ever-improving Seb Copp doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, netting his first goal for the club, heading home a well-flighted corner from Sam Gleeson.

On the half hour, Otters manager Carpenter shuffled his pack, sending on Ollie Milton and Zak Wilkinson.

Four minutes later it was 3-0 and again Upsher was the scorer, this time netting from close range after the home glovesman had parried a fierce strike from Blackmore.

Crediton tried to find a way back into the contest, but they were kept at arm’s length by a disciplined Otters defence in which skipper Fin Lashbrook impressed with his tackling, alongside fellow defenders Will Reid, Tom Bennett and Sam Gleeson.

Just before the break, Upsher completed a first-half hat-trick, netting his 29th goal of the season in the process!

Early in the second half, Carpenter played in Milton, but he shot fractionally wide.

Minutes later the crossbar denied the hosts a goal back, but it was soon 5-0 as Freddie Carpenter got on the end of a Bennett cross.

Ottery glovesman Jack Hembrow saved brilliantly from the Crediton number nine before swapping the keeper’s jersey with Freddie Clarke and going up front for the last 20 minutes.

Three minutes later, Crediton were awarded a penalty after Lashbrook was penalised for handball. However, the Crediton marksman hit the crossbar with his spot kick!

Ten minutes from time Hembrow made it 6-0, closing down what looked like a lost cause, before tucking the ball home.

Crediton were gifted a consolation shortly before the end after a defensive mix-up in the Ottery box.

Ottery boss Carpenter praised his side’s first-half performance and singled out Seb Copp as the Man of the Match.

Ottery are next in action on Easter Saturday (April 20) when they are away at Okehampton.