Upottery’s tough start to their second season in the Macron League Premier Division continued as the Glebe Park men were tasked with talking on one of the top flight’s regular ‘big hitters’ Newtown.

Upottery boss Dan Prettejohn was left with mixed feelings at the end of the 90 minutes for he had seen his side ship five more goals – that’s 14 conceded in their first three league games this season – but he also saw his side score five times to share the spoils in a 10-goal thriller.

Pat Sherwood (2), Joe Jones, Tom Edwards and Ed Frampton, scored the villagers’ goals.

Prettejohn said: “Given that they [Newtown] had beaten Clyst Valley 7-1 and Topsham Town 6-0 after an opening day single goal loss to Okehampton I think they underestimated us and we gave them a mighty scare.

“Of course, conceding five more is a worry, but I cannot be too hard on the lads as we are still a few short from being able to field what I’d call our ‘very best starting eleven’ and, to net five times against such quality opposition suggests we are not that bad a side ourselves.”

He continued: “We are certainly going to have to tighten up at then back or we are in for a long hard season, but I am confident, when we get all the lads back, we’ll pick up results.”

To be fair to Prettejohn, and his team, they have not had the easiest of starts with an opening day game against everyone’s favourites to walk away with the league title Elmore, followed by a visit to the notoriously difficult place for an away side to take points – Furzebrake, Beer.

It’s not about to get any easier either for this Saturday (September 16), Prettejohn takes his side to Exeter to face a Heavitree United side who bagged their first win of the campaign last Saturday, scoring five answered goals against Seaton Town.

Prettejohn says: “It’s no use us looking to hide behind ‘difficult starts’ etc. No, for me it’s all about us and our game. In recent season’s a hallmark of our play has always been that the better the opposition the more we rise to the challenge and I will, be looking for the lads to do the business for us against the Heavies’ on Saturday.”