BEAMINSTER 2

LYME REGIS 3

LYME Regis progressed to the second round of the Dorset Senior Trophy after beating arch-rivals Beaminster 3-2 in a feisty derby at the Memorial Ground.

In truth, the margin of victory might have been larger for the Seasiders, who were invited to kick down the hill in the opening half of a match which had twice been postponed.

Adventurous centre-back Kingsley Wellman popped up with the opening goal for Lyme, tapping home at the back post after good work from Joe Bond and Fred Parsons.

Lyme were dominant at this stage and Bond crashed a header against the bar from a tempting Ben Vine cross, Parsons’ follow-up then scrambled off the line.

Bond was denied by the Rainbows’ goalkeeper, who saved with his trailing leg, before Parsons cannoned a shot off the bar after a sweet exchange with Brad Rowe.

Parsons finally got his goal after more incisive combination play with Bond, the former calmly slotting in for 2-0.

Beaminster, robust in a tackle inside their area, escaped punishment and broke upfield, Josh Baker firing a devilish skidding shot through the grasp of Seasiders’ stopper Brett Garner from 30 yards.

After half-time, the Rainbows now had the opportunity to play down the slope but Lyme again proved wasteful and Parsons, Vine and Gary Knight all missed opportunities.

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Lyme’s poor finishing enabled Beaminster to level at 2-2 when Lyme were penalised for a high boot, allowing Chris Herbst, a former Lyme player, to slot past Garner from the spot.

Lyme were to deliver the killer blow 10 minutes from time when Vine jinked inside from the left and curled a fabulous shot into the far corner to seal victory.

Speaking to the Bridport News, Lyme boss Gerard Hitchcock admitted Lyme could have enjoyed a healthier scoreline.

He said: “It was definitely worth the wait and it should’ve been more emphatic than it was. First-half we should’ve been four or five in front. That little bit of luck wasn’t with us.

“We were comfortably the better side all round and it’s enjoyable when you’ve got at least five or six that have been involved with Lyme. It was a tasty game in a couple of places.”

In the next round, Lyme visit Shaftesbury Town Reserves on Saturday, November 9 (1.30pm).

Lyme: Garner, M Knight, G Knight, Wellman, Rocket, Parsons, Turner, Fellingham, Bond (D Holmes 80), Vine, Rowe (Womersley 60). Sub not used: Clifton.