For yesterday`s match against Topsham 2nd X1 Millwey Rise welcomed back Nathan Womersley who has re-joined the club after a season away (writes Dick Sturch).

Sam Turner also made a welcome return having recovered from the injury that plagued him for the best part of last year.

Having said that, the team was much depleted owing to holidays, etc. The first half saw chances at both ends. Tom Bastin went close with a rasping shot that the keeper did well to push away for a corner.

In another Millwey push the resulting corner skimmed the visitors' bar. Bastin then had another opportunity which was gratefully held by the keeper.

Topsham had a couple of opportunities in the last five minutes of the half. The first was fired wide from a scoring position and the other brought a great diving save from Nathan Hoole between the sticks.

Ten minutes into the second period, Rise went ahead through a shot from striker Bastin who minutes later smashed another effort against the Topsham crossbar.

Sam Turner scored Millwey`s second goal with a firm strike from outside the area which gave the keeper no chance. Almost immediately he followed this up with an equally firmly struck shot that flew just over.

A series of substitutions by Millwey management to ensure everyone had game time resulted in a new line-up which lacked the previous fluency and allowed Topsham back into the match.

The visitors got the ball into the net with 10 minutes of the game left and play then swung from end to end until the final whistle.

Millwey's man-of-the-match was given to Lee Beer for his outstanding efforts at the heart of the defence. This was the last' friendly' for the Rise 1st X1 before the opening home game of the new season at home to East Budleigh 2nd X1 on September 19th.

Millwey 2nd X1 playing away came up against a strengthened Lyme Regis Rovers X1. In a hard-fought game, they were very happy with the resulting 4-1 defeat. Wayne Jenkins, converted from defender to attack and leading scorer, scored Millwey`s goal. Mark Pike was voted the man-of-the-match by manager Terry Male. Their final friendly next Saturday sees Winsham visiting Cloakham.