In an entertaining and competitive local derby, Budleigh Salterton got the better of Ottery St Mary in the Devon Football League. 

The Robins of Budleigh edged the opening ten minutes, despite plenty of energy and verve from a young Ottery side, but there was a lack of decisive quality in the crucial final third. 

The Otters conjured the first genuine chance on 18 minutes and forced an outstanding double save from Tom Pryke, who had an excellent game throughout. 

Budleigh broke the deadlock on 38 minutes, when Harry Gibbings picked out a lovely pass for Jack Hocking to convert with his customary precision. It should have been 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, as a free-kick from Morgan Pearce picked out the head of Hocking, but this attempt cannoned back off the post. 

After the restart, Hocking fizzed over a cross from the right but Jake Chudley’s effort was narrowly off target. Ottery resilience finally broke for a second time when a corner from Pearce prompted an almighty goalmouth scramble before Jake Pond stabbed the ball over the line. 

The Otters kept plugging away and got the goal their endeavour deserved, as a corner was whipped into the near-post and Hocking, normally so prolific at the other end, had the misfortune of seeing his attempted headed clearance flash beyond the helpless Pryke. 

Ottery worked hard in search of a late leveller but were unable to breach the Budleigh defence for a second time. 

It was a far tougher weekend for Ottery St Mary 2nds, as they went down to a painful 6-1 defeat at Lyme Regis in the Devon and Exeter League Premier Division. Ottery’s development side did get a win, 1-0 at Witheridge 2nds, while the Budleigh Salterton 2nds trounced Colyton 2nds 6-0. 

Elsewhere in the DFL, Newtown are the early pace-setters after a 4-0 drubbing of Feniton. Beer Albion have made a terrific adjustment to this new level and a penalty from the experienced Tony Pinder was enough to give them victory over Thorverton.  

Topsham Town are propping up the rest at this early stage, as they were given a 5-0 humbling at home to North Molton Sports Club. The University of Exeter won 2-0 at Fremington in the other game.