INJURIES and poor availability are proving a major hindrance for Lyme Regis interim manager Chris Higgs as the Seasiders prepare to visit Crediton Seconds tonight (7.30pm).

Higgs will only be able to field a skeleton squad for the trip to Lords Meadow.

It comes after a 3-0 loss to Upottery last Wednesday, followed by a 5-0 defeat by Clyst Valley on Saturday, both at Davey Fort.

In each game, Lyme battled away but made little impression on the opposition goal.

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Upottery sealed their victory thanks to goals from Mason Doble, Stephen Morris and sub Blake Freemantle.

Clyst, meanwhile, opened a 2-0 first-half lead thanks to Will Burwood and Rhys Whitehart, before further strikes both players completed their brace along with an Ethan Matthews finish.

Lyme’s paucity of options up front have been a major factor in their standing of 12th of the 14 teams in the Devon & Exeter League Premier Division this season.

And Higgs will again have to mastermind a patch-up job for the Crediton clash.

He said: “If we get anything that’s a massive bonus, it’s got to that point. I nearly got the gloves out myself.

“Against Clyst we were beaten all over the park, we’re really struggling for numbers and the games are really mounting up. It’s a struggle to produce anything.

“I’m not really expecting much, we’ve got a scratch 11. It’s injury and availability, a mix of both.

“Everyone’s pulling up and filling in where they can, then they’re off again.”

Lyme’s selection dilemma is likely to intensify in the coming weeks as the Seasiders still have eight matches to complete, including the season finale at Kentisbeare on Tuesday, May 21.

Higgs added: “It’s just a case of getting an 11 together, both reserves and the first team. It’s just one big team at the moment.

“They’re not nice games as well, we’ve got Alphington and Clyst Valley again. We just need three points from any game.

“We’ve got the Uni twice and hopefully they’ve all gone home by then! They’ve got to play 15 games in 25 days.”