Budleigh Salterton Reserves were beaten 2-0 when they hosted Otterton in a Macron League Division Three game, writes SpursTom.
Having not seen action since the second Saturday of January, the Robins second team were hoping to put out a strong side for a much-anticipated local derby fixture.
Sadly, a combination of unavailability and call-ups to the senior side left second team boss Alan Barnsley working hard on the morning of the match to field a side – even going as far as to name himself amongst the substitutes!
The bosses makeshift team fell behind inside two minutes to a Matt Lidstone strike, but thereafter stood strong and gave a really good account of themselves before conceding a second late in the game when Jimmy Cardwell got the final touch in a crowded area.
The Robins were lacking the strength and luck required for such a challenge and this reversal drops them closer to the relegation places.
It is not about to get any easier for Alan and his team, for this Saturday (February 24) they face an arguably tougher challenge when they travel to Exeter to take on a Royal Oak side that defeated table-toppers Priory over the weekend.
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