Beer Albion Reserves kicked off their Macron Devon and Exeter Division 3 season on the holiday weekend with a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Ottery St Mary, writes Mike Adkin. The Fishermen never really got to grips with their stronger and more hungry opponents, and although clear cut chances were few and far between, Ottery showed increasing domination through the game. However, a couple of early chances went begging for Beer, with Ryan King ruled offside after a through ball from Adam Brewer on 5 minutes, and then shooting just wide 10 minutes later from a Jack Harwood cross. Ottery then went 1-0 ahead in the 26th minute when the Beer keeper Elliot Driver misjudged a cross into the box, allowing the Ottery centre forward to slot home. The Fishermen continued to allow their opponents to dominate possession with slack marking, especially in midfield, but somehow levelled things in the 37th minute when a Max Richardson shot hit the ground in the penalty area and fortuitously went in off Josh Moughton, making things all square at half time. The second period started with Beer almost getting their noses in front when Josh Lund broke into the Ottery box only for the keeper to make a fine save, pushing the shot around the post. However, the game carried on in the same vein, Ottery increasingly dominant with Beer not pressing sufficiently, and with far too many 50-50 balls not contested properly. It was then no surprise when the home team made it 2-1 on 80 minutes, when another mix-up in the Beer penalty area allowed the Ottery centre forward to double his tally. However George Harwood almost salvaged an unlikely point in the last minute of stoppage time, when his well struck free kick rattled the crossbar.

Next up for the Fishermen’s second string is an evening local derby against Axmouth on Wednesday 29th, followed by a home tie with Sandford on Saturday 1st September, kick off 3 pm at the Furzebrake, the match sponsored by Pecorama.