CHAGFORD 1

LYME REGIS 3

DAN Baggs struck from distance to help Lyme Regis beat Chagford 3-1 and narrow the gap on league leaders University of Exeter Seconds in the Devon & Exeter League Division One.

Fred Parsons added another and Julien Simier came off the bench to score for the Seasiders while Jake Rowe pounced upon a defensive error to gain a late consolation for Chagford.

The match started with Chagford well on top for the first 15 minutes as they had a few half chances but could not capitalise as Lyme Regis were initially rusty, having not played a

match in the league since mid-December.

The Seasiders grew into the game though and were rewarded for their efforts when Baggs broke the deadlock after 20 minutes with a shot that rocketed into the net from 25 yards out to open the scoring for the Seasiders.

The hosts then began playing some superb football and got their reward half an hour into the game with a great move that allowed Mark Bailey to slide the ball in for Parsons to fire home from 12 yards out.

The two sides went in with the Seasiders 2-0 up but the second half started with Chagford again having the majority of the ball but Lyme doing well on the counter attack.

Simier came on in the 65th minute and had an immediate impact as five minutes later he shot into the net from 10 yards out after another well-worked move.

A defensive error from Cody Bowditch, who otherwise had a superb match, when he tried to play the ball out after a Chagford attack, allowed Jake Rowe to pounce inside the box.

After Rowe bagged a late goal there was a tense finish in store but Chris Higgs made a superb save to keep the score at 3-1.

Lyme coach Steve Crabb said: “It was a good performance considering we have trained but you cannot beat playing games and seven weeks is a long time without a game so it was quite pleasing to get the result.

“They were all pleased to get a game under their belts it is a long time seven weeks it is like waiting for pre-season really.”

Lyme next face a trip in the league to seventh-placed Chard Town Reserves on Saturday (3pm).

Lyme: Higgs, Wellman (Day 85), Bowditch, Knight, D Rowe, Herbst (Simier 65), Bailey, Parsons, Fellingham, Turner, Baggs (B Rowe 60)