Ryan’s to the rescue for Bridport (From Dorset Echo)

Ryan’s to the rescue for Bridport

8:30am Monday 4th February 2013 in Football By David Williams, Sports Reporter

RADSTOCK TOWN 1 BRIDPORT 1

RYAN Dovell’s 12th goal of the season saw Bridport claim a deserved point on a day when they could well have taken all three.

The striker hooked a superb shot across the Radstock keeper with around 20 minutes to go after the hosts had taken the lead early in the second half.

The draw was Bridport’s second in successive Toolstation Western Premier Division outings and boss Trevor Senior was pleased with the way his side played following nearly a month out of action.

“Over the 90 minutes perhaps a draw was a fair result in terms of chances,” he said. “I was pleased with how we moved the ball around and we just needed a game after all the postponements.

“I wouldn’t say we looked rusty, we were bright enough, and we had the lion’s share of possession but our final ball let us down at times.

“It was important we got something from the game and we can look to build on that at Odd Down on Tuesday night.”

With a bit more luck the Bees could have been celebrating three points rather than one on Saturday.

Jamie Symes, who eventually got to play for the club again following his loan move from Dorchester Town, saw a first-half header come back off the bar.

Then the attacking midfielder thought he had earned a penalty when he was felled in the box only for the referee to ignore Bridport’s claims.

Senior wanted more of the same in the second half but on 55 minutes Matt Condliffe was harshly penalised for a challenge outside the area and, when the initial effort rebounded off the bar, the hosts were first to react to bury the ball past Sam Filkins.

Although Bridport got back on top Radstock were always dangerous on the break and Filkins had to be on his toes to produce a tremendous save to keep his side in the match.

But with Dovell in your team you have always got a chance and he took his brilliantly. Chris Clarke played a ball over the striker’s shoulder and the ace marksman instinctively hit a volley into the far corner to make it 1-1.

Bridport went for the winner and the closest they came was when substitute Dean Ritchie saw his close-range shot well saved by the Radstock stopper.

“Last season we didn’t draw many games so at the start of this season I said we needed to turn defeats into draws,” added Senior.

“Now we need to start turning draws into wins and if we pick up points away from home it should see us safe for this season, but that’s always easier said than done of course.”

Bees: S Filkins, J Filkins, Condliffe, Evans, C Clarke, Hayter, Luke, Wise (S Buckler 70), Dovell, Symes (B Clarke 90), Hailu (Ritchie 65)

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