WILL Hancox’s injury time free-kick proved too little, too late for Newton Abbot Spurs as they lost 3-2 at home to Ottery St Mary last night.

Marc Revell’s men fell behind with seven minutes of the Peninsula Premier East clash played after Tom Pennicott was penalised for handball in the box. Liam Carey sent Joel Hawker-Patchett the wrong way from the spot.

The Spurs stopper was called into action again with quarter of an hour gone when he had to tip an effort from the lively Oscar Walsh around the post.

Spurs’ Harry Ford saw a strike from the edge of the box fly just over Jacob O’Callaghan’s crossbar before Hancox rounded the visiting keeper well but was unable to keep the ball in play.

The hosts restored parity on the stroke of half-time, though, when Ford sent a cross to the back post for James Moxon to head in his fourth goal in three games.

The in-form striker had to wait until the hour mark to get his next sight at goal when he forced O’Callaghan to save well with his feet.

But it would ultimately be the Otters who got their noses back in front six minutes later when some poor marking from a Liam Carey free-kick allowed Martin Tyrer to head home.

Nathan Cooper had a shot helped over the bar by Hawker-Patchett and Ford saw a fierce strike deflected behind as the game reached the dying stages.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Fanson got the visitors’ third and ultimately decisive goal when he calmly finished off a slick counter-attacking move.

Hancox would have the final say with the very last kick of the game, curling in a free-kick after substitute Tate Breslan-Aggrey had been fouled on the edge of the Ottery area.

After the game, Revell said he was pleased with how his side reacted to going behind but ultimately they just didn’t want it enough.

‘It was one of those things where we were a little bit sloppy and gave a penalty away,’ said Revell afterwards.

‘It annoys me that they do it, but it’s still part of their learning curve. We fought back from it and they did exactly what I’ve asked them to do in that respect.

‘They did then take a bit too long to get themselves back into the game. I think we were a bit sloppy for half an hour, but once we got hold of the ball I thought we looked dangerous on the break.

‘To get a goal was probably our reward for a good 15 minutes before half-time. If we’d had that good period and not scored, it then becomes hard to rejuvenate the players for the second half.

‘Ottery were very good and lively up top, but apart from the penalty I don’t think they threatened too much after we got a foothold in the game.’

And he added: ‘We dropped ourselves 2-1 behind because of a defensive error. Lloyd [Gardner] gave away a free-kick out of frustration and we didn’t mark it properly.

‘We didn’t want the ball enough to claim the header, or even go up for it. They had two men unmarked at the far post, which was annoying.

‘Then the free-kick at the end was too little, too late after we’ve lost our heads a little bit in that period where we had to want the game more.

‘Instead Ottery did that, and that was all it came down to tonight. They just wanted it a bit more than we did.’

Last night also saw Revell hand debuts to defender Alfie Tucker and 16-year-old striker Breslan-Aggrey, son of former Torquay man Jimmy Aggrey.

‘Alfie [Tucker] was class,’ said Revell. ‘I actually asked Alfie to go in and play at centre-half because I’ve seen him play there.

‘For a small lad he sweeps tremendously and wins the ball well. I was never in any doubt or worried about him making his debut tonight.

‘With Tate [Breslan-Aggrey], I didn’t put him in on Saturday because I was concerned the game was a bit too tight.

‘But I didn’t want to keep putting his debut off because he’s good enough to play academy football and he’s good enough to prove himself at this level.

‘I couldn’t afford to not put him on when we were chasing the game. You can’t have a decent striker sat on the bench and not give him a run when you need a goal. He came on and did well.’

The Spurs are set to welcome Sidmouth Town to The Rec this Saturday (3pm), who Revell won’t be taking likely.

‘Sidmouth’s results are picking up and I don’t want to treat any team with disrespect,’ Revell insisted. ‘You need to play your strongest side every week.

‘But I believe I’ve got the strongest side out of 15 players – there aren’t 11 who are nailed on, which means I can think hard about starting the likes of Tate [Breslan-Aggrey].

‘It’s a bit of food for thought because losing a game does give me a bit of licence to change the team if I want to.’