Sports in Axminster

AFTER last week's heavy defeat, Lyme Regis Reserves were able to field a much stronger side home to Pinhoe in Division Three of the Devon and Exeter League.

The game started off fairly even, with few chances created by either team.

After banging in five goals without reply at Plymouth Marjon on Saturday, the Tiger Way faithful were expecting a hatful of goals last evening (Wednesday) when Axminster Town were at home to bottom of the league Sidmouth Town, who had failed to take any points from their previous 11 games.

The Tigers boss, Dan Prettejohn, was not so confident, warning his team that the local derby could be "a great big banana skin", having struggled in previous midweek local clashes against Honiton and Cullompton. He was concerned that this could be viewed as their "Achilles Heel".

WATCHING Lyme Regis 1st team play this season is not for the faint hearted. The Seasiders are prone to giving away soft goals before staging a late comeback to rescue points. This was the pattern of their home game against Elmore 2nds on Saturday, following similar performances in three other matches this season.

True, like so many other clubs this season, Lyme have struggled to field a full-strength side due to injuries, Covid and unavailabilities, but their frailty in defence will be an area in which manager Julien Simier will want to see a big improvement, essential to stay in touch with the leaders in the Devon and Exeter Premier division.

A very young Uplyme Reserves couldn't quite hold out against a very competent, experienced Kingsbury side who ran out 5 - 0 winners.

"It was only 1-0 at half-time," said joint manager Steve Gillan. "But the opponents were excellent on dead ball situations and every goal came from a corner or free kick phase.

A CUP game for Uplyme 1sts meant they welcomed Tavyside FC, unbeaten in their respective West Devon league and in excellent form according to their coaching team.

But they knew within a minute they had a game on their hands when Alex Jones, from the right-hand side of the penalty box,  played in Daley Holmes, who slotted in a clinical finish to put the Swallows one up.

By Richard Honour

Devon and Exeter Premier Division

By Dick Sturch

Culm United 0, Millwey Rise 5

Axminster Town suffered their second league defeat of the season on Wednesday of last week when they were beaten 2-0 at Cullompton, a side five places below the Tigers in the South West Peninsular Premier division.

They did much better, however, on Saturday when they drew 2-2 at home to Bovey Tracey, a match sponsored by AS Electronics who named Ryan Andrews as man-of-the-match for a superb midfield performance.

A talented young Axminster footballer has signed professional forms for Southampton FC.

Tyler-Jay Dibling, who has come through the Axminster Town youth-set up, has been offered a five-year scholarship at the Saints.

Axminster Town Ladies have made local football history by winning a place in the third qualifying round of the women's FA Cup with a 3-2 victory over Budleigh Salterton.

Led by captain Lauren Struszczak, the ladies were led onto the pitch by a full squad of mascots, who are all part of the Axminster Town Wildcats, in front of 127 spectators.