By Dick Sturch

Millwey Rise 1st X1 9,  Axmouth Utd 1st X1 0

For a second consecutive week Millwey Rise Rise spectators witnessed a goalfest. This time it was the Seniors who achieved it putting 9 goals past their visitors Axmouth and moving up to third place in the Devon and Exeter Division Five.

It was Axmouth who started the game the strongest with a couple of shots that tested Flynn Smith in the Millwey goal. They continued pressing and Rise were living somewhat dangerously. It wasn't until the 20th minute when Joe Osborne fired in a fierce volley the keeper saved, that they made any impression on the visitors.

Rise continued pressing and a superb through ball from Ben Webb fed Sam Dibling who provided the finishing touch to open the scoring.

Osborne was foiled on two further occasions as Millwey continued putting the visitors defence under a constant barrage. They were eventually rewarded as the half drew to a close when Dibling laid the ball to Tyler Allen who fired it home for Millwey's second.

The second period was hardly under way when Millwey's Sam Turner was injured and replaced by Owen Dibling making his first ever Senior appearance. This was quickly followed by a Rise goal when a pass from Dibling senior found Dibling junior who stroked the ball into the net for goal number three.

Manager Shane Featherstone introduced Sam Bevis to replace Matt Lewis and minutes later Sam Dibling was again prominent when his pass found Osborne who made it four. Axmouth's occasional forays into the Millwey half rarely created any immediate danger although did lead to a couple of corners. Bevis nearly made his presence count when his fierce shot rattled the visitors crossbar.

Osborne gave way to Luke Thurlow making a welcome return after injury and he soon made his presence felt. Allen scored the goal of the match with a 25-yard free kick which left the keeper flat footed.

A further substitution saw Theo Stone replacing defender Ben Webb. Thurlow put Rise six up gliding through the defence to place the ball wide of the keeper. Another Dibling combination from a free kick via an own goal provided goal number seven.

The penultimate goal was eventually headed home by Bailey Hall after hitting the bar and ricocheting around the visitors goal area. Featherstone replaced Allen in the final minutes before Owen Dibling hammered home a powerful shot to celebrate his first Senior appearance and goal number nine.

Millwey will have many more difficult games than this but Axmouth never gave up and made Rise work to break them down. Ben Webb was impressive in the back four. Owen Dibling showed the promise of things to come but the manager's man-of-the match was Zak Meaker whose work rate was phenomenal.

Next week Millwey 1sts are away to Exeter University 7th. The Reserves are at Cloakham where Starcross Dons 2ndX1 are the visitors.