COLYTON 3

LYME REGIS 1

LYME Regis suffered a 3-1 loss away at the hands of newly table-topping Colyton, despite leading for most of the match, in the Devon & Exeter Premier Division.

Fred Parsons netted for Lyme after five minutes, and were able to hold out until the 85th minute, when they conceded three before full-time.

Parsons scored after five minutes, when Lyme foiled an attempt from the home side to play out from defence.

Cody Bowditch intercepted, and was able to lay the ball off to Ben Vine who allowed Parsons to finish into the bottom corner.

Numerous good chances came through Jake Bearpark, as well as chances from Vine while a Lyme effort had to be cleared off the line as the Seasiders dominated the early stages.

Colyton were able to pressure the visitors despite their early deficit but struggled to create any clear-cut chances.

Kingsley Wellman was also twice hit hard by the ball, resulting in a bloody nose.

After 85 minutes, Lyme were finally broken, when the visitors were caught high up the pitch, a moment of hesitation from Cameron Fowler allowed Colyton in to finish superbly into the far corner.

The second goal saw controversy, as the hosts took a free-kick quickly, despite the referee marking out the 10-yard line and having halted play.

The goal was allowed to stand to the frustration of the Seasiders’ boss Gerard Hitchcock.

The third goal saw the Seasiders caught late on via a counter-attack as Lyme searched for an equaliser.

Hitchcock said: “The first 25 minutes we were much the better side and could have been about 3-0 up.

Referring to the second goal, Hitchcock said: “In the rules it states that once you have engaged with the defending team and he has also held his whistle out, it means you have to wait for the whistle to restart.

“All of my players are waiting for the whistle to blow and that is how it should have been.”

As a result, Lyme now sit fifth in the table, level on points with fourth place Cronies, albeit with an inferior goal difference.

Should Clyst Valley win their two games in hand however, Lyme can go to sixth.

Lyme travel to Upottery on Saturday (2.15).

Lyme Regis: Meech, Larcombe, Knight, Wellman, Fowler, Bailey (Cleal 75), Parsons, Bearpark, Holmes (Jones 65), Vine, Bowditch Subs not used: Farrant