WELTON ROVERS              1

BRIDPORT                         1

TREVOR Senior admitted Bridport’s 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Welton Rovers “felt like a loss” after they were denied all three points late on.

With the rugby World Cup now in full flow, the aptly-named Martin Johnson struck for the home side three minutes from time, cancelling out Jamie Symes’ first-half header.

“The only danger they caused us was really caused by ourselves,” the Bees’ chief told Echo- sport.

“We were a bit slow starting and they started well but they never really tested Ashley Weeks the whole game.

“It felt like a loss really to be honest.”

After a sluggish start from Bridport it was the impressive Symes who opened the scoring on the half-hour mark.

He did well at the back post to head a Shane Evans’ delivery into the net to make it 1-0.

Bidding to make it two, the ball was played into the left-hand side of the area and was chipped to the back post to find striker Warren Byerley.

He took a touch and, with the ball slightly stuck under his feet, the former Dorchester Town man eventually screwed his shot wide of a post.

Late on, Chris Clarke then had a golden chance to settle the game.

His surging run enabled him to beat a pair of defenders and unleash an effort that was inches from making it 2-0 to the visitors.

But the Bees found themselves punished soon after as Welton’s Dan Cottle made his way into the left-hand side of the box and found Johnson, who slotted home a late leveller three minutes from time.

Seniors’ side still had one final chance to win it when Darren Watts and Tom Richardson broke with a numerical advantage but the solitary Welton defender intercepted the former’s pass, which meant the St Mary’s Field outfit had to settle for a point.

Senior added: “The good thing is we didn’t get beaten but I think we will look back on the season and think it was two points lost really.

“We were in a good position.

“It wasn’t a great game of football to watch. As a spectacle it was awful.

“The lads are disappointed but it’s another point.

“Jamie Symes in particular I thought was outstanding.

“All over the park and all day long he won loads of headers.”

Ryan Hayter (groin), Warren Byerley (hamstring), Chris Senior (ankle) and Dan Peach (shin splints) were all carrying knocks throughout the game.

Bees: Weeks, Condliffe, Clarke, Evans, C Senior (Buckler 82), Ry Hayter (Hill 75), J Symes, Watts, Richardson, Byerley, Peach (A Symes 57)