BRIDPORT RESERVES 2 CHICKERELL UNITED 2

BOTH managers were disappointed to miss out on victory as Bridport Reserves and Chickerell United were forced to settle for a share of the Magna Dorset Premier League spoils.

After a goalless first half, the hosts struck first at St Mary’s Field through Darren Lock.

The Chickens then hit back with a deflected shot from Steve Welch and took the lead via a close-range finish from the same player.

But the Bees had the final say as Tristan Gale’s cross was nodded home by Jack Scovell in the latter stages.

Reserve-team boss Robin Townsend said: “I expect Chickerell were disappointed not to come away with the win, but so were we.

“We weren’t at our best in the first half but they didn’t create much either.

“We tried to address the problems at half-time and to be fair we were the brighter side at the start of the second half and we deserved to go in front.

“We took our foot off the pedal and got caught napping and they made it 1-1. They were then the better side and it was 2-1 when one of our lads made a small error.

“At least we showed plenty of character to come back and equalise.

“Overall we didn’t do ourselves any harm, but we didn’t play as well as we know we can.

Counterpart Maurice Welch added: “There was a lot of effort in the first half but chances were few and far between.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the way we were playing but we didn’t have enough guile about us so we changed a few things at half-time to try and make us a bit sharper.

“But within five minutes of the second half we were 1-0 down.

“The lads showed good character and we started to get back into the game, partly because we moved Steve Welch further forward and he caused a lot of problems.

“We began to create chances and on the hour we equalised when a shot from Steve was deflected in.

“And we scored another with Steve being in the right place at the right time to hammer it in off the crossbar.

“We would have quite happily taken a 2-1 win but Bridport scored again with about five minutes to go.

“I was disappointed to let them back in as we should have gone on to win the game. Bridport deserved their point though, so full credit to them.

“We really should have closed the game out but that didn’t happen unfortunately.”

Chickerell visit Hamworthy Recreation this weekend while the Bees travel to Tintinhull.

Bees: Fry (A Clarke 60), Stordy, Lock, Day (Rowe 80), Cummings, G Bulman, J Filkins, C Bulman, Gale, Scovell, Morgan.

Chickens: Boore, S Welch, Peck, Burton, Lambert (Walker 85), Etherington, Miles, Tarnawski (Curran 65), Price, Pattison, Why. Sub not used: J Welch.