THE champagne was put on ice at the Davey Fort yesterday as Lyme Regis 1sts were marching towards the Devon and Exeter Premier East title when  the game was abandoned.

The Seasiders needed one point from their last game of the season against Chard Town and were coasting it at 3-0 up when the referee pulled the plug at half-time after a deluge of rain.

The referee said after the game that the heavy rain had caused a lot of surface water on the Davey Fort pitch and he considered it dangerous to continue.

The Lyme players, of course, urged him to continue the game being so close to to their biggest prize ever, but the Chard boys were more than willing to escape the rain.

Lyme were well in charge throughout the first 45 minutes, playing fast, flowing football, with goals from Robbie Fellingham, Brad Rowe and Tom Bastin. They looked to be on course for a hatful of goals, one of the reasons probably why Chard were happy for the game to be abandoned.

Lyme were scheduled to host a double-header with Lyme Reserves playing Teignmouth after the first team match. When the pitch was ruled unplayable, a message was sent to Teignmouth, who were already travelling to sa.y the game had been called off.

The game will now have to be replayed and and if Lyme get the point they need to win the title, they will then play Lapford, the winners of the Premier West Division, with the game scheduled to be played at Topsham at a date to be announced, to decide the league's overall Premier champions in the most difficult seasons.

Lyme Reserves are away to East Budleigh on Wednesday and travel to Cyst Valley on Saturday. They will then be left with just fixture home to Teignmouth. If they win all three they could well end up in the top four of Division One East, depending on the results of those above them.

FOOTNOTE: The League has announced that the replay against Chard Town Reserves will take place next Saturday (May 22) at the Davey Fort. If Lyme get a point they will finish top of the Premier East Division and will then play Lapford , winners of the Premier West Division at Topsham on June 5 to decide the overall Premier champions.