OKEHAMPTON ARGYLE II 3

LYME REGIS 1

LYME Regis suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat to Okehampton Argyle Seconds in their first Devon & Exeter League Premier Division game since December.

Julien Simier’s men looked rusty with players filling for a patched-up defence and the Seasiders found themselves 2-0 down against a side that had lost 11-0 to Alphington last time out.

Steve Batey helped energise Lyme, but keeper Chris Higgs conceded a penalty for 3-0.

Brad Rowe finished from close range as a mere consolation for the Seasiders, who also had Ben Turner sent off for dissent.

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Simier said: “Tactically I had to change a lot of things, put players where they’ve never played before.

“I did feel that with the quality we had we could’ve coped with it, but tactically and physically, the combativity wasn’t there at all first half.

“We were beaten in every single department with and without the ball. I didn’t recognise the team at all.

“We were missing the first header, miles away from the second ball and even further from the third when we were in defensive shape.

“We were missing simple things. It was looking like a typical game where you haven’t played for weeks and weeks. Everyone is a little bit out of match fitness.”

Lyme have the chance to take revenge at Davey Fort in the return fixture this weekend.

Simier said: “That’s just the one word to everyone’s mind: revenge.

“It’s not just against them, but against ourselves as well. It’s proving that you can fall on your knees but it’s how you respond to it, get back up and fight.

“Sometimes you get knocked down but that doesn’t define us. I want to see action.

“We can talk about it but I want to see it on the pitch. It’s more against ourselves where we have to be frustrated and that’s what I want (the players) to understand. That’s the message.”

Kingsley Wellman has left for Bridport, while Ben Turner is suspended but Robbie Fowler, Mike Knight and Gary Knight return.

Lyme: Higgs, Fellingham, Beer, A Rowe, Lewis, Garrett, Turner, Bailey, Rawlins (Batey 50), B Rowe, Matthews.