BRIDPORT 0

AXMINSTER TOWN 0

BRIDPORT held on for a point against Axminster Town on a Boxing Day stalemate at St Mary’s Field.

After a drab first half, the main action came in the second period as Riley Weedon was superbly denied by Axminster keeper Chris Wearing.

Axminster then went close to a winner themselves as Jordon Scadding bravely kept out Jake Quick in the 99th minute.

A point was the right result after an even contest, for which manager Chris Herbst was suspended following his red card against Sherborne Town in the Dorset Senior Cup.

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He did not miss a great deal of action in the first half as few chances were created, the first coming when Fred Parsons’ shot fell to Brad Rowe who was denied by Tigers’ keeper Chris Wearing.

Axminster were then denied what they felt was a penalty as Jake Quick ran through and hesitated to shoot before drawing contact from Jordon Scadding, the keeper coming out on top for a goal-kick.

Rowe skied over and ex-Bridport defender Chris McGrath nodded tamely at Scadding as both sides struggled for quality.

Riley Weedon forced the most meaningful save of the half from Wearing, his low shot teasing a good save.

Bridport ended the half on the front foot as skipper Luke King narrowly failed to make contact at the back post from George Calverley’s corner.

Axminster improved in the second half as ex-Bridport forward Richard Hebditch fired a deflected effort at Scadding, who later superbly tipped a Jamie Price header away.

However, the introduction of James Cox for Rowe sparked the Bees into life.

The left-back, pushed forward on the left wing, was heavily involved as Wearing came out to clear a through ball before McGrath had to block Parsons’ attempted lob.

Seconds later, Weedon seemed destined to make it 1-0 only to Wearing to block his shot using his legs, snubbing the game’s best chance up to then.

As the match approached the final 10 minutes, Axminster wasted successive corners and Bridport were convinced Sam Sheldrake hauled Riley Weedon down in the box, although the officials were not persuaded.

Craig Veal, largely anonymous until the 82nd minute, nodded wide before an absolutely crucial intervention from Weedon.

Bridport worked a fine opening thanks to the creativity of Parsons and he threaded a pass in for Weedon, who strolled clean through.

His shot appeared to be bending inside the far post but Wearing had other ideas, clawing the shot away to safety with his fingertips.

Bridport’s next chance came in the 93rd minute as Wearing punched Weedon’s free-kick to Harley Brook, his overhead then finding Kieren Daniels who slipped in the box as he attempted to cross.

However, Axminster finished the stronger side as ex-Bees winger Oscar Latas raced down the left before finding Quick, who was superbly denied by Scadding at close quarters.

Axminster fashioned one last chance in the 99th minute, Sheldrake’s goalbound header kept out only by Quick, who turned his back on the shot which struck him and bounced to safety.

In the end, both sides had to share the points but the second half was at least vastly improved on the first in terms of entertainment.

Bees: Jo Scadding, Brook, Calverley (Owen 73), Leader, King, D Lock, Daniels, Gape (Childs 73), Parsons (Diaz 89), Rowe (Cox 59), Weedon. Sub not used: Gall.