LYME Regis manager Gerard Hitchcock believes the Seasiders’ opening Macron Devon & Exeter League Premier Division clash against Chagford at Davey Fort on Saturday (3pm) is a “tough one to call”.

Hitchcock has overseen an excellent pre-season in which Lyme claimed four wins from five games – only losing 3-1 at home to South West Peninsula side Honiton.

Lyme have also recruited well in the summer, goalkeeper Brett Garner coming in alongside defenders Alex Rocket and Mike Knight, while Hitchcock hopes to conclude a deal for Craig Every this week.

Striker Joe Bond, plus Sam Pollard-Jones and Nathan Womersley have also committed to the Seasiders.

However, a tricky test awaits in promoted side Chagford, who finished fourth in Division One last season.

Hitchcock told the Bridport News: “They’re a promoted side and in the Devon and Exeter you never know what you’re going to come up against week to week.

“There’s a lot of teams that have players signed on from higher levels. If for any reason they don’t have a game, you tend to look at their results one week, they lose to somebody and you think ‘that’s not good’.

“Then the next week there’s a freak result, but that’s purely because they’ve got one or two lads that have come in from a different standard and have definitely made the difference. It’s a tough one to call.”

Pollard-Jones (work) misses out but Lyme are otherwise at full strength.