By Dick Sturch

Saturday was certainly a Red Card day for Millwey Rise as both teams finished their respective games with 10 men when Jamie Tate for the 1st X1 and Sam Burke for the Reserves both received their marching orders.

Millwey Rise 1st X1 2, Exeter United 1st X1 2

The Seniors' started their game at home to Exeter United 1st X1 without key players Sam Dibling, Alex Rockett and Leigh Beer, who was seriously injured in the game against Axminster.

On top of this, skipper Haydn Lewis is unavailable for an indefinite period, again through injury.

In the opening period Millwey were on the front foot and put their opponents under constant pressure but the nearest they came to scoring was a ball that flashed across the Exeter area without anyone providing the touch that would have put it in the net.

The greasy surface made ball control difficult for both sides but after 25 minutes Rise were awarded a penalty which Tom Bastin slotted home. Matty Lewis had a speculative effort from distance skim the visitors bar as the first half came to a close.

The second period was 10 minutes old when Nathan Womersley latched onto a free kick and skilfully guided the ball into the corner of the Exeter goal to increase Millwey's lead.

Exeter then came back into the game and forced several excellent saves from keeper Nathan Hoole before defender Jamie Tate received a red card for a last-ditch tackle on the edge of the area.

United missed the opportunity to score but minutes later they headed home from a rebound off the Millwey crossbar. Soon after this it took a great interception by Lewis on the line to prevent them adding another.

Sam Turner came on to replace Ty Allen as the vistors, taking full advantage of Millwey's 10 men, began to pile on the pressure. Again, good work by keeper Hoole prevented them adding to their score.

Millwey then took off Dave Bridges and brought on Pete Hoare. The Rise defence was now under constant attack and again it was Hoole, and good fortune, that kept the ball out.

In the last-minute Uni were awarded a corner and from the resultant cross the ball was scrambled into the home net for the equaliser.

Millwey nearly held out with their 10 men. Dave Bridges had a great first half and acting skipper Tommy Bastin, who apart from scoring, never stopped running in search of another.

Man-of-man must go to Matty Lewis who seemed to be everywhere at the most crucial moments.

Next week Millwey Rise 1st X1 travel to Cranbrook (kick-off 3pm).

Dawlish Utd 3rd X1 3 v Millwey Rise 2nd X1 2

Millwey took an early lead through Luke Furlow who made full advantage of a goalmouth mix-up to poke the ball home.

Dawlish had a fortunate equaliser when the ball was deflected into his own net by defender Stuart King. They then went further ahead from a header shortly before half time.

After the break Millwey fell further behind from a free kick but King made amends with a bullet of a free kick to pull one back.

In the latter stages the Rise second string were playing with only nine men after Sam Burke`s red and King being 'sin binned'.

Manager Terry Male was pleased with his team's overall performance but a 'little annoyed' at some of the decisions arrived at by the official in charge. He named Stuart King as his man-of-the-match.

Next week Millwey Rise 2nd X1 welcome Exmouth 3rds to Cloakham (kick-off 3pm).