Perry Street League - Premier Division

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

Lyme stutter in latter stages

Lyme Regis 2 Chard Town Colts 2

CHARD nicked a point with two late goals after playing second fiddle for most of the match.

The Seasiders, who spent much of the game queuing up to miss, looked to have this in the bag until 15 minutes from time when Alan Kelland's shot was deflected past Lyme keeper Chris Higgs by defending skipper Tim Edwards.

Then, with seven minutes to go, Alan Tovey skipped through on the right to crack a powerful drive wide of Higgs to give his side a fortuitous draw.

The Somerset side were young and enthusiastic, but they rode their luck and never looked capable of penetrating the Lyme back division until their late effort.

The Seasiders, with new signing James Gisborne, from Bridport, always making himself available and pulling the midfield strings, again looked impressive in build up.

And there was no shortage of attempts on the Chard goal which enjoyed a charmed life in the opening 45.

Lyme went ahead after just four minutes through Gerard Hitchcock who tucked away the opener, having snapped up a weak attempt by Adam Kelly to head the ball back to keeper James Carmichael.

The ball bounced off the Chard woodwork, desperate defenders and the goal line with frequent regularity for the next half-hour as the Seasiders sent down attack after attack.

Chard had no answer to Lyme in this mood, and they really should have been punished on 32 minutes when they were split asunder by a cross from the left.

Hitchcock, with the goal at his mercy, stooped to head and missed completely.

The visitors improved after the interval, but Lyme continued to call the shots and miss the target.

Graham White, running onto a glorious cross-field pass from Gisborne, bungled his half hit shot wide, and Mark Bailey saw his sharp header pushed onto the post by Carmichael.

Minutes later, Carmichael was in action again, going down well to save White's header at the foot of the upright.

The Seasiders looked to have sewn it up when Hitchcock leapt to head a fine second. But nobody told Chard there was no way back and they saved the day with just about the only two chances they were given.

Gisborne brought a new dimension to the Lyme midfield, and is an excellent capture, while Adam Clark and Stuart King were again the rocks of the Lyme defence.

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