Bees battle for big point

Torrington 1 Bridport 1

BRIDPORT enhanced their recent progress with a hard-earned draw against Torrington at Vicarage Field.

Although the Bees rode their luck at times against the reigning champions of Division One, they deservedly came home with another important point to edge them further away from the drop zone.

A desperate last ditch challenge from Dean Ritchie preserved the 1-1 scoreline with 12 minutes left, when Torrie winger Danny Robinson looked certain to tuck home the rebound from a terrific one-handed save by Martin Peters.

Had it crossed the line it would have been hard on the Bees, who again demonstrated plenty of determination and effort if not quality.

Torrie had the visitors in occasional discomfort with some good delivery into the box from both flanks, particularly from the dangerous Karl Madge.

It was his cross that caused alarm on 10 minutes when Supergreens skipper Lee Langmead sent a looping header goalwards, which Peters palmed onto the bar and Andy Stevens clipped over as it fell to him close in.

Peters also did well to push a downward header from Langmead away when the bounce almost caught him out.

Bridport's Andy Hitchcock was unlucky to see his curling shot tipped clear by Steve Oliver following a neat cut in from the right, then Ritchie burst clear of the back line only to be thwarted by the Torrie keeper who was quick off his line to make the save.

The Bees began the second period where they ended the first and their purposeful play was rewarded with a goal five minutes in.

The excellent Bruce Gawen won the ball in midfield and skipper Gary McAuley slid it through to Hitchcock, who showed neat composure to ghost round the keeper and slot calmly home.

But Torrie were level within five minutes when Robinson threaded the ball to Stevens, who took on a defender and produced a great finish, rifling the ball low across Peters into the corner.

Richard Leach nearly put the Bees back in front on 70 minutes, but his snap-shot from 25 yards was brilliantly saved by Oliver, who flipped to his left to parry after a wicked bounce almost eluded him.

Ritchie's late saving tackle was the closest the hosts came to winning it after Peters had made a fine stop down low to his right to deny Langmead.

Bridport (from): Peters, Newland, Leach, Clark, Linney, McAuley, Thompson (Flann 60mins), Gawen, Ritchie, Hitchcock, Thoday. Subs not used: Leigh, Russell.

Att: 95

Bees man of the match: Bruce Gawen