SANDFORD First team made its longest away trip of the season when it journeyed to Lyme Regis, just inside the county of Dorset, on Saturday September 23.

On a bright and sunny afternoon the away side was looking to consolidate its fourth position in the Devon and Exeter Premier League.

On a very small pitch the game was scrappy from the start with play going from end-to-end.

Neither could muster a decent shot at goal.

With shots at either end going wide or at the keepers, the arrival of half-time was a blessing, 0-0 was the score.

From the start of the second half the half-time team talks seemed to have had some effect with both sides looking to score.

After 56 minutes the first Lyme player entered the ref's notebook.

I must mention Shaun Stapleton who came in at left full back and had a great game.

Sandford squandered several chances to take the lead with the home side creating very little.

Jeb Mussel, Sandford’s young keeper, had another brilliant game, his handling and distribution coming on leaps and bounds.

As the half went on Sandford came more and more in charge of the game and Lyme were reduced to pulling shirts or fouling.

On 82 minutes Danny Carroll found himself with only the keeper to beat when he was blatantly fouled by the keeper.

This to everyone was a sending off offence, not to the referee who at this stage of the game was producing some strange decisions.

Sam Reeves stepped up for the kick, which the keeper pushed on to the bar.

Minutes later Sandford had another free kick just outside the box which Sam then made up for his penalty miss by placing his kick into the corner of the net.

The score 0-1 to Sandford.

A little later the Lyme keeper completely lost his head with another foul, this time miles out of his area.

Sandford then had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside, which was very dubious.

This led to Owen Gregory, who was making a welcome return after injury, being sin-bined for nothing.

We all need referee's admittedly but we need sensible decisions.

Just before the end, a mistake in the Sandford defence allowed Lyme to score the equaliser, 1-1 at full-time.

A point secured away from home but it should have been all three. 

This coming Saturday, September 30, the First team travel to Sidmouth for a 3pm kick-off.

The Second team, having no match last Saturday, returns to action at home when they welcome Axmouth United for a 3pm kick-off at George V Playing Field at Sandford.  

A J H