By Dick Sturch

Millwey Rise 1sts 3, Bishops Blaize 1sts 2

Despite heavy overnight rain the pitch remained in good condition. Millwey made the most of this to put the visitors defence under early pressure.

It therefore came as a complete surprise when on 10 minutes Bishops opened the scoring. The goal itself was exquisite. They were awarded a corner which was delivered low across the area. One of their forwards ran towards it taking several Rise players with him. He then allowed the ball to pass through his legs for his colleague to smash it into the Millwey net.

The turning point of the game came five minutes later when a visitors' defender was penalised for an unfair tackle inside theie area. Without doubt it was a blatent penalty but he begged to differ with the referee and in the ensuing confrontation was ordered off the field leaving his team with 10 players.

From the spot Sam Dibling deftly opened the scoring for Millwey. Tommy Bastin, who seemed to be everywhere, was slightly unlucky on two occasions not to add another goal. Dibling then increased his tally with a firmly headed goal from a pinpoint cross supplied by Skipper Haydn Lewis.

Three minutes after the re-start 'Rise' scored their third, and Dibling his hat-trick, thanks to a Zak Meaker assist. Although reduced to 10 men, the visitors proved resilient and launched several threatening attacks.

Lewis was replaced by Jack Farrant 15 minutes in and a few minutes later Sam Turner hit a powerful shot from 20 yards that slammed against the Bishops' crossbar.

In the final quarter two more Millwey substitutions were made which saw the introduction of Jack Bennet and Dave Bridges.

The game seemed to lose its way a little with some petty infringements by both sides. From one such incident late in the game Bishops' reduced the arrears direct from a freekick just outside the penalty area but Rise survived the final nail-biting minutes to record the victory.

For Millwey, Sam Dibling with his hat-trick, was the man-of-the-match but he was pushed hard by Zak Meaker who covered every blade of grass on the pitch in defence, midfield and attack.

If there are matches next week Millwey 1st X1 are away at Axmouth and the 2nd X1 welcome Otterton 2nd X1 to Cloakham (kick-offs 2-15pm).