LYME Regis fell to an unexpected 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Willand Rovers on Saturday in an extremely flat performance.

On a Saturday when Roy “Chopper” Harris was the guest speaker at the club’s fundraising evening, it seems that Robin Townsend’s side could have used even half of the former Chelsea stars fighting spirit.

The Seasiders started the game second best, with Willand Rovers dominating the game and creating the majority of chances.

Lyme did however take the lead through their one created chance, as Declan Ennis was brought down by the host’s goal keeper, which was duly converted.

Half-time arrived and Robin Townsend issued some strong words at the interval to try and spark his team into life, but to no avail.

The second half was very much the same as the first, with Willand dominating and it wasn’t long until the pressure cracked Lyme Regis.

Kingsley Wellmen, who was booked in the first-half, brought down the home striker in the area, a challenge which led to his second bookable offence and thus he was given his marching orders, a decision he could not argue with.

Willand converted the penalty, and despite a slight sign of revival from the visitors, it was the hosts who got the winner eight minutes from time as their striker rose highest to head past young Billy Fleet to give the league struggler the win, and it’s safe

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to say that Lyme Regis boss Robin Townsend wasn’t impressed.

He said: “We knew what we needed to do, we’ve spoke about it enough times, but I think most of the players thought it was just a case of turning up and the job would already be done. Unfortunately football doesn’t work like that.

“It was very disappointing. We needed 90% of our players playing at sevens and eights out of tens, but most were at threes and fours.

“We got what we deserved which was nothing.”

Despite the sending off and a number of harsh bookings, Townsend wasn’t looking to pass the book.

“I’m not blaming the referee at all, we just didn’t show up. We were absolutely dire, it was one of the worst performances we’ve had.

“Anybody out of that starting 11 who think they’ll play on Saturday must have a worrying doubt about it, because they didn’t perform.

“Three players came out of it with any credit, and that was Billy Fleet, Gary Knight, Declan Ennis, and everybody else was mediocre to say the least.

“I don’t mind as long as people are giving 100 per cent, but when you see them just coasting and going through the motions it’s very disheartening.”

Lyme Regis: Billy Fleet, Sam Day, Gary Knight, Dom Rowe, Kingsley Wellmen, Cody Bowditch, Ben Turner, Rob Fellingham (Juilen Simier 60) , Chris Herbst, Tristan Gale (Sam Jones 60), Dec Ellis

Sent off: Kingsley Wellmen (second bookable offence)