Budleigh Salterton Reserves went down 3-1 when they hosted Otterton in what turned out to be a compelling East Devon derby at Greenway Lane.

The Robins made a good start and their early endeavours were rewarded when Liam Dickinson drilled the ball home from the edge of area to give the hosts a fifth minute lead.

That set the tine for an excellent first half which saw end-to-end action, but no further goals until, just two minutes before the break, a cross from the right was turned home by Matt Lidstone to send the sides into half-time on equal terms.

If the late first half goal was a blow to the home side, then early in the second half they suffered another when, just two minutes from the restart Otterton’s leading scorer, Lee Mitchell rifled the ball home leaving Budleigh glovesman Warren Vaughan no chance of keeping the powerful shot out. The goal, the 11th of the season for Mitchell, gave Otterton a 2-1 lead.

This season has been one of fine margins for Budleigh teams and lady luck did not shine on them once again when, during another period of excellent home play, a shot from the impressive Eliot Mann came back off the base of an upright!

Otterton settled matters with their third late in the game – but there was a large slice of controversy about the goal.

Vociferous appeals from the home dugout were ignored – appeals that the ball had actually gone out of play while making it sway down the wing and, with home players ‘switching off’ the inevitable happened as the ball arrived at the feet of Ryan Wright who fired it home from 18 yards to seal a 3-1 win.

So, another game, when a battling Budleigh performance, saw them gain nothing for their efforts.

In a solid all-round performance the shift from Eliot Mann caught the eye.

This Saturday the Budleigh second team are again in Macron League Division Three action when they entertain Tedburn St Mary at Greenway Lane (3pm).

Budleigh 1st team had their game at Waldon Athletic fell, like many across the SWP league Eastern Division, to the weather. The Robins, who were in Tuesday night action at Axminster (check out how they got on at www.exmouthjournal.co.uk) are away again on Saturday (November 17) when they travel to Exminster to meet St Martins (2.15pm).