IN a David and Goliath clash - top against the bottom - Lyme Regis Reserves came within minutes on beating Devon and Exeter Division Three leaders AFC Exe at the Davey Fort yesterday.

This has been difficult season for the Seasiders' second string, having changed managers mid-season and only winning four games as the current campaign draws to a closed

In contrast AFC Exe have enjoyed a brilliant season, winning 14 of their 19 games and with a two-point lead at the top of the table over Seaton Town but with a game in hand. In contrast, Lyme, second from bottom, will almost certainly be relegated along with Chagford.

AFC Exe did not look like league leaders in the first half as the Seasiders, boosted by the presence of a few first teamers as the main squad were without a game, defended stoutly.

Chances were few and far between and it was in the last minute of the first half when Lyme took the lead, somewhat against the run of play, when Cam Fowler slotted the ball home from a Steve Batey cross.

It was a different story in the second half when the visitors upped their game and looked dangerous whenever they went forward, but the equaliser did not come until the 67th minute when the usual reliable Gary Knight failed to clear the ball, allowing the Exe attacker to drill the ball past the advancing Will Meech.

The visitors domination paid dividends in the 83rd minute when they stole what looked to be the winner in the 83rd meeting, but Lyme staged a spirted come-back in the last few minutes with Toby Fowler poking the ball home in a goalmouth scramble in the 92nd minute, following a Robbie Fellingham corner, much to the delight of the Lyme crowd.

It was a spirited performance by the Reserves with manager Wallace Blackmore having more than one choice for man-of-the-match but ended up giving it to full-back Stu Broom who was his usual dominant self at the back throughout.

Squad: Will Meech; Toby Fowler, Dan Beer, Gary Knight, Stu Broom; Robbie Fellingham, Robbie Fowler, Cam Fowler, Louis Rinaldi; Ethan Matthews, Steve Batey. Subs: Ben Bowditch, Harry Andrews.

Next Saturday Lyme Reserves have their penultimate match of the season when they travel to sixth placed Hemyock for a 4pm kick-off.