LYME REGIS manager Robin Townsend is hoping that 2018 can spark a revival in fortunes for his side, starting with their home match against Wellington Reserves on Saturday in Division One of the Devon & Exeter Football League.

The Seasiders have four defeats in their last six league games but sit second in the table, five points behind league leaders University of Exeter Seconds.

Townsend said: "Hopefully we are going to start off on a brighter note, the last few weeks we have not done particularly well so we are hoping 2018 can turn it around a little bit."

Townsend acknowledges that the season could have gone better so far, saying: "It has been a bit of an indifferent season, which is a bit disappointing so far we have just got to keep positive, it is still in our hands at the moment."

Townsend admits that the title race may be beyond them but the side are still targeting promotion.

Townsend said: "If I am being honest now I would probably say that the title is beyond us.

"It is not dead in the water at the moment but I think the title is being rather a little bit ambitious I still think promotion is our goal."

Townsend is hoping his side can get one over the Wellington Reserves after they let slip a 3-1 half-time lead to lose 4-3 when the two sides played in October, with Wellington having a few first-team players in their side.

"I think in our eyes we seem to think that we owe them one after we played them last time.

"We were a little bit disappointed to be winning 2-0 and to lose 4-3 so I would have thought that would inspire the lads that we need to get one over them."

The match is one of three consecutive home games for Lyme Regis, with the other two matches against Bickleigh and Heavitree United Seconds from which Townsend is targeting nine points.

Lyme Regis have currently have Kieran Daniels and Declan Ellis out injured and Townsend thinks Daniels will be out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Townsend hopes that Ellis, who is recovering from an ankle ligament injury, will be able to return by the end of January or in early February.