Glyn Rowett's first victory as manager was as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, Richard Griffin notching a well-taken hat-trick to maintain his record of scoring all of Foxhole's goals this pre-season. The win should have been even more emphatic as the Otters had no answer to incessant pressure, although in fairness the new-look home team played enough decent football, particularly in the first-half, to suggest mid-table consolidation is not beyond them.

Playing down the slope Foxhole attacked from the start, Kempthorne finding Griffin inside four minutes, but the chip from the edge of the box was just too high. Griffin's raw pace and power was to create numerous chances from then on, among them an early shot from Whetter's pass which struck the base of the upright, a near post effort which flew wide following a clever turn on Johnstone, a fine left-wing cross which Rowe was unable to convert and, capitalising on indecision by Gill, a drive which Allie finger-tipped to safety before the marine finally opened his account on 33 minutes, lobbing home after good work by Dillon and Kempthorne. By this time, Friendship, Kempthorne and Adam Holland had all also gone close to scoring as Ottery were being torn apart, but they were to regroup before the break and McDermid ought to have done better from close range from Burke's cross, while Ryan Holland had to be at his best to deny the lively Pernell and, from the resulting corner, Roberts blazed over when well-placed.

An excellent flowing move within seconds of the restart involving several Foxes and culminating in Bird's cross which Warne could only volley wastefully wide set the tone for a second-half of visiting domination. Ottery's tactic of holding a high line merely afforded acres of space for the hungry Foxhole forwards to race into, but, of the hatful of opportunities which fell their way, only two were converted; after 68 minutes, Griffin rounded Allie to roll the ball into an empty net and, two minutes later, the same player made it 3-0 with a free header at the far post from Kempthorne's flighted centre. Hopes of a goal-feast to reward the trio of fans who made the 190-mile round trip were dashed by several examples of profligacy, such as failing to react to Allie fumbling a cross from Friendship who then saw a shot blocked by Crook, Rowe nodding over Warne's corner before pulling a shot wide, Griffin chipping too high with only the keeper to beat before seeing another attempt well-fielded and Whetter heading Bird's corner narrowly off target, while Allie brilliantly tipped over another Warne volley from Rowe's assist. However, overall the team performance had been excellent, as had the display of young referee Strawbridge.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Jeff Dillon, Bradley Ralph, Lee Whetter; Jason Warne, CJ Bird, Michael Kempthorne, Adam Holland, Kyle Friendship; Mark Rowe, Richard Griffin.
Subs: David Grose, Daniel Allen.

Ottery St Mary (4-4-2): Tony Allie; Dan Gill, Aaron Carpanini, Elliot Crook, Darryl Johnstone; Lance Easton, Craig Roberts, Michael Burke, Jack Barndon; Ash McDermid, Simon Pernell.
Subs: Richard Jones, Pavel Vodarcik, Sam Czeres, Jamie Jones.

Referee: Mr Dale Strawbridge (Ottery St Mary).