Lyme Regis Football Club supporters were shocked and surprised to hear this week that the Seasiders had lost two of their best players.

Lyme manager Julien Simier has revealed that top scorer Joe Bond and Fred Parsons, one of the club's all-time greats, had left the club.

 Centre-forward Bond, who has scored 236 goals in 13 seasons for the Seasiders, has

been forced to retire due to injury at the age of 31 and Parsons, much in demand by other local clubs, had decided to play the rest of the season for Bridport in the South West Peninsular League.

 Bond has been struggling with a long-term groin injury and has been undergoing physiotherapy to get himself fit again. However, he has been forced to hang up his boots after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis and is likely to require surgery.

 A favourite with the Davey Fort crowd, Bond's goal tally puts him in the top five of Lyme marksmen alongside the likes of Ellis Hoole, Graham "Percy" Vere and Stuart Rattenbury.

 Bonds' best season was in 2015-16 when he netted 38 goals. His highlight was probably his hat-trick in the 4-1 Dorset Intermediate Cup final win over Allendale at Bridport in April 2014.

 Manager Simier has paid tribute to his enigmatic striker, saying: "He wrks hard from the top, leading the press by example and always pushing himself. an unselfish player.

"You don't find his kind of players often who work hard, score goals, are physical and unselfish. He's been brilliant for the club.

"It's a real shame. He was getting close to the top for all-time scorers for Lyme."

Parsons is another huge loss for the Seasiders. Rumours have been circulating for some time that he has been unhappy at Lyme, the club he has play for since leaving Pymore in 2016. 

 He has already played a couple of times for the Bees this season and has decided to stay at St Mary's for the rest of the current campaign.

 Parsons has been hugely popular at the Davey Fort, scoring 71 goals, 17 of them last season, and is recognised as one of the most influential players to turn out in the amber and black and has been in sparkling form this season.

 Lyme have also lost the services of Rikey Sargent, Sam Pollard-Jones and Tom Bastin this season but they are still keeping pace with the leaders in the Devon and Exeter Premier division where they sit in third place going into to tomorrow's home match against Kentisbeare.

 Due to the weather, there has been no game at the Davey Fort for nearly a month and with heavy frosts all week there is some doubt whether the match will be played. 

 Lyme Reserves travel to Bampton in Division Three. Uplyme 1sts are away to Alphington 2nds in Division Four and will be anxious to get back to winning ways after a slump in their form. Uplyme Reserves `re at home to Barrington Reserves in Perry Street Division Three.

Charmouth are at home to neighbours Thorncombe who sit one place below them in Perry Street Division One (kick-off 2pm).