LYME Regis begin their new Devon & Exeter League Premier Division season with a tricky trip to Colyton on Monday (6.30pm).

Lyme warmed up for their curtain-raiser with a 5-3 win over Combe St Nicholas, a 4-1 victory against Ilminster and a 4-0 loss to Feniton in a quiet pre-season during which training was the main focus.

Manager Julien Simier revealed the relative lack of games is a direct strategy as the Seasiders aim to start far quicker than they did last season.

Five losses in their first ten contests hampered Lyme as the Davey Fort outfit eventually struggled to fifth place.

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Simier, who misses the first two games due to a holiday, said: “The boys are looking forward to it, Kev Turner’s going to take over for me.

“It’s a bit of a shame we’re playing Colyton first game, to have a derby so early. We always have a very difficult game playing at Colyton.

“They make it hard for us, so fingers crossed the boys will do well. I gave them an objective that I want to come back and see six points on the table!

“Or, at least a better start than we had last year. It took us two months to get going for lots of different reasons.

“This year physically we had a different schedule and planning of our pre-season to be ready a bit earlier than we were last year.

“If the plan works well and the work’s been done, we should be ready.”

Lyme could hand debuts to three defenders in the form of ex-Axminster Town duo Stuart Broom and Dan Beer, plus Haydn Lewis from Charmouth.

However, Kingsley Wellman (calf) is out for up to six weeks and Rikki Sargent is unlikely to feature this season due to work.