BRIDPORT 2

HENGROVE ATHLETIC 3

BRIDPORT put up a brave second half fight-back at St Mary's Field last night only to see Hengrove snatch all three points in the dying minutes.

The Toolstation Western League Division One clash was an action-packed affair but unfortunately for both sides it was the referee who was the most talked about person after the final whistle particularly among the Bees' fans who felt he was conned far too often by the visitors' constant play acting.

One of the biggest talking points was the decision that led to Hengrove's opener, which saw Darren Lock penalised for a foul in the box.

The amount of contact seemed minimal but a spot-kick was given and duly dispatched.

However, the Bees had no one to blame but themselves for the away side's second goal, which came five minutes after the break.

Tom Coggins made the mistake by under-hitting his back pass and the grateful recipient showed no signs of nerves as he snapped on to the opening and beat home keeper Lee Cuff.

The Bees looked down and out but on 70 minutes a new lease of life was pumped into them by manager Royston Davies, who replaced Ryan Hayter and Adam Symes with Darren Stewart and Matt Condliffe.

Condliffe made an instant impact and two goals in five minutes put the hosts back on level terms.

Russell Legg got the first before Paul Fellows equalised.

Suddenly it was now Hengrove who looked shell-shocked but as Bridport continued to throw the kitchen sink at their opponents another lapse at the back allowed the visitors to snatch victory with just four minutes to go.

Much credit must go to the Bees for the battling qualities they showed in the latter stages of the game but once again naivety and silly mistakes cost them.

Bees: Cuff, Symes (Condliffe 70), Fellows, Lock, Thornton, Hayter (Stewart 70), Coggins, Wise, Ritchie (Skinner 80), Legg, Evans.