WELLS CITY 1 BRIDPORT 1

SAM Buckler’s first goal in Bridport colours salvaged a point at Wells City last night.

Returning to league duty on the back of a disappointing exit in the FA Vase – at the hands of lower-league rivals Sherborne Town – boss Trevor Senior was looking for a suitable response from his troops.

And despite falling behind to an early goal, the Bees displayed fine character in Somerset to fight back and earn a share of the spoils.

Senior, whose side sit fourth in the Toolstation Western Premier Division, said: “It was a much better display from us and I was really pleased with it. We deserved to get something out of the game.

“There would have been times previously where we would have lost that game, but we showed a good bit of spirit.

“They scored after about four minutes but after the first 10 or 15 minutes we got right into the game and our tempo was a lot better.

“We passed it around well but we just couldn’t get the goal we were after.

“Chris Senior had a shot that almost scraped the outside of the post, Chris Clarke couldn’t quite direct a header and then our best chance saw Shane Evans cushion a volley, from Dan Wise’s diagonal ball, into the path of Dan Peart.

“He hit it well and it was heading for the top corner but their keeper made a great save.

“Wells did hit the bar just before half-time but we should have been level at the break.

“I felt that if we could get a goal in the second half we might go on and win it. It took a while but we got an equaliser 20 minutes from time.

“A good free-kick from Dan Wise found Shane at the far post. He headed it back across goal, the ball hit the inside of the far upright and came back to the penalty spot where Sam Buckler volleyed it in.

“Matt Condliffe came on and had a couple of good efforts. We created quite a few half-chances and although they had a late flurry right at the death, over the course of the game a draw was a fair result. Having said that, both sides could have won it.”

This Saturday sees the Bees play host to basement boys Bristol Manor Farm (3pm).

Bees: S Filkins, Hill, Evans, S Buckler, Senior, Hayter, Luke, Wise, B Clarke (Morgan 78), M Buckler (Legg 46), Peart (Condliffe 68).

Attendance: 51