LYME REGIS 5

KENTISBEARE 0

LYME Regis earned their first win of the season with a resounding 5-0 victory over Kentisbeare in the East Devon Senior Cup.

Julien Simier’s men were in dominant form and bagged a 2-0 lead at the break courtesy of Fred Parsons and Brad Rowe goals.

Lyme’s start to the second half was in complete contrast to the first half as Kentisbeare rallied until the hour mark.

Lyme eventually disrupted the visitors’ hopes of a comeback as Rowe ran in behind the defence, drawing a foul in the box and winning a penalty.

READ MORE: Colyton 3-0 Lyme Regis - match report

Rob Fellingham duly stepped up and scored from the spot to make it 3-0, with Kentisbeare’s heads appearing to drop after that.

Lyme’s third goal settled the Seasiders down and Fellingham was on hand to score a quite brilliant fourth goal, finishing off a beautiful back-to-front team move.

And a miserable day for Kentisbeare was completed by an own goal as an away defender diverted Mark Bailey’s cross into his own net.

Speaking to the Bridport & Lyme Regis News, Simier said: “I could see at training last Wednesday that the players were eager to put things right.

“They worked really hard and it’s starting to pay. I might’ve pushed them harder than we normally do in pre-season and physically they were a bit tired.

“I can see now it’s starting to pay. Fingers crossed we will have a good run from now until the end of the season instead of starting in January, like we did last year.”

And Simier praised Rowe for his role in Lyme’s victory, adding he hoped the plaudits would not “curse” the forward.

Simier said: “Brad scored the second and is starting to come nicely together. He struggled in pre-season but you can see his fitness is coming.

“He’s working really hard and the way he’s playing is the most unselfish and most free he’s been playing under me.

“He’s got lots of potential and capability but he’s never been able to unleash it for lots of different reasons.

“This year, his mind is on football, he’s switched on and he’s working hard. He scored a beautiful goal and could’ve had three or four in the day.

“He provoked the penalty as well, so he was really good up top. I’m pleased and what I’m saying now I hope is not going to curse him!”

Lyme have no game this weekend but return to action in the Devon & Exeter League Premier Division on Saturday, September 17 at Kentisbeare.

Lyme: Higgs, Fellingham, Beer, Knight (R Fowler), A Rowe, Garrett (Lewis), Turner, Parsons, C Fowler, B Rowe, Daines (Bailey). Subs not used: Bond, Blackmore.