Sidmouth Town Reserves completed their year of league action with a 4-3 win at Lyme Regis in what was an enthralling contest.

The Vikings began well and were looking comfortable when slack defensive play saw the home side punish them and take the lead.

Lyme doubled their lead when a long ball over the top was pounced on by the home striker and drilled home.

One unsavoury part of the early action was the physical approach adopted by the home side and the match referee was slow to get to grips with the situation. However, once he had the yellow cards began to be dished out and, midway through the half, a second yellow for a Lyme player saw the home side reduced to 10 men for the rest of the game.

Amongst all the ‘nastiness’ the Town players, many of them youngsters, kept their heads and opted not to get involved in the dark arts of the game! As half-time approached Will Jenkins’s speculative effort somehow deceived the keeper and the Vikings were able to go into half-time just one goal in arrears.

Town picked up where they left off and, for 21 minutes totally outplayed their opponents making their numerical advantage count. Keeping the ball and stretching the home side it was a joy to watch, and it was a matter of time before they got their reward.

Ferenc Bodor was running at the defence and from his low cross Scott ‘George’ Hughes tapped home from close range to even the score up. Pushing forward and pressing the hosts it was a rampant away side that now had renewed confidence

Jenkins made it 3-2 with a fantastic free-kick that flew in, giving the keeper no chance. Lyme, to their credit had to give it a go and came back at the visitors.

The Vikings had a couple of chances to put the game beyond the home sides reach, but squandered them and it was to prove costly as Lyme equalised with a deflected shot that squeezed in the far post.

Town regrouped and showed a great collective spirit and it was Jenkins that secured all three points with his first senior hat-trick nudging home after a keeper error

A tense last 10 minutes saw Adam Bartlett make two great saves and Ollie Jarrett clear off the line as long throw-ins on the tiny pitch gave Lyme their best option.

However, the final whistle blew and Town had banked three more Macron league Division One points and they go into the fortnights winter break sitting third, one point behind Colyton who, in turn, are nine behind runaway leaders Cronies.

When the league resumes on January 7, Town will entertain Bickleigh at Manstone Lane (2.15pm).