LYME REGIS 3

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER II 3

LYME Regis staged a comeback from 3-1 down to earn a point against University of Exeter Seconds at Davey Fort.

Lyme’s Joma Devon & Exeter League season has been full of incident and the latest instalment proved to be in keeping with that trend.

Julien Simier’s Seasiders were initially caught cold by the pace and movement of the students as Tom Ward outsprinted the home defence to beat keeper Chris Higgs.

Disaster struck for Lyme when Higgs went off with a groin injury in the 25th minute.

With no sub goalkeeper available, Harvey Brimicombe donned the gloves and Fred Parsons was brought on in midfield.

Parsons, who has been dual signed with Bridport Reserves this season, would eventually have a significant impact on the game.

READ MORE: Dawlish United 0-4 Lyme Regis - match report

However, Ward grabbed his second via a heavily-deflected free-kick.

Lyme responded when Brad Rowe hit the bar with a looping header before Parsons showed excellent composure to slot home a finish just before the break.

The students went 3-1 up through sub Matt Connor but Rowe tucked away a rebound from Rikki Sargent’s powerful effort.

Lyme were now in the ascendancy and that man Parsons popped up with the leveller before sub Tom Kilcoyne was denied by the post in a goalmouth scramble.

Lyme host Elmore Seconds on Saturday (3pm) and Lyme have a number of ins and outs.

Simier said: "I think it's going to be a really tough season. I was really surprised with the Uni, they gave us a tough game and tried to play football.

"Elmore I'm expecting the same kind of game, quite a young team trying to play football.

"For us it's going to be a case of being clinical, we keep coming back from 2-0, 3-0, 3-1 and manage to either squeeze a point or nearly win the game.

"One day we'll probably we able to win a game a bit more easily."

Parsons is expected to play for Bridport Reserves this weekend but Sam Pollard-Jones is unavailable.

Mark Bailey (quad) and Higgs (groin) are out. Lyme Reserves' keeper Robin Harp will deputise.

Joe Bond (broken foot) is on the verge of a comeback and Jack Lamb-Wilson could feature.

Lyme: Higgs, R Sargent, Turner, K Wellman, Pollard-Jones, Garrett, Fellingham, Bastin, Bailey, Rowe, Brimicombe. Subs: Parsons, Kilcoyne.