LYME REGIS 3

HEAVITREE UNITED 1

A BEN Vine double and a free-kick from Robert Fellingham saw Lyme Regis to a 3-1 victory over Heavitree United in the Macron Devon & Exeter Premier Division.

Lyme started well and were the dominant force for much of the first half, but were unable to convert the pressure.

An early change saw Vine replace Sam Jones, who picked up a hamstring injury after 20 minutes.

They did eventually get their reward, a minute before half-time.

The Heavitree goalkeeper handled outside the box and earned a yellow card before Fellingham lifted the ball over the wall for the wind to sweep it into the goal.

Lyme took the lead with them into the break.

The wind was proving a real problem and made playing with it no advantage.

However, 10 minutes into the second half, Lyme doubled their lead.

Fred Parsons crafted a good shot on goal, forcing the Heavitree goalkeeper to parry, which only allowed Vine to tap in.

With 65 minutes on the clock, Vine again added to his tally.

On the edge of the box, Vine was able to turn and shoot into the top corner.

Vine also had chances to cement a hat-trick, via a penalty after a Heavitree player handled in the box.

However, the keeper saved it to deny Vine what would have been a fine trio.

There would be a final twist, with Heavitree grabbing a goal in similar circumstances to Lyme’s first.

A free-kick two minutes from time was whipped over the wall and swept into the back of the net.

Lyme saw out the last minutes effectively without further incident in a very well-managed performance.

Lyme boss Gerard Hitchcock said: “Another positive one, I can’t complain so another win.

“We are playing well enough. We had a little bit of a slow start. We didn’t start particularly quickly, it was a bit of a slow pitch, a bit hard work going. Wind was playing a major factor.

“We created enough chances in the first half, we were always on top but it wasn’t emphatic.”

Lyme: R Fowler, C Fowler, Wellman, Knight, Bowditch, Parsons, Bailey (A Rowe 75), Turner, Fellingham, Jones (Vine 20), Rodriguez (Bond 70).