BRIDPORT RES 4 HOLT UNITED 4

A DRAMATIC late strike from Bridport’s Jamie Beasley ensured the Bees’ reserves grabbed a point against Holt United at St Mary’s Field.

In a pulsating clash, the two sides served up a cracker with Shaun Annetts’ men coming back from 3-0 and 4-2 down to get a draw.

A blitz of strikes from Holt’s Charlie Helyar, Paul Lane and Mike Haskell put the visitors in total control of the contest within the opening 20 minutes, the first two of the three efforts flying in from range after the Bees had failed to close down in midfield.

Facing an uphill task, the hosts got one back when Beasley was felled in the box, and Tristan Gale converted the resulting spot-kick.

The impressive Robin Jones then cut the deficit further for Bridport in the 42nd minute with a 20-yard strike which found the top corner.

With Bridport now trailing 3-2, Holt came out quickly at the start of the second half and restored a two-goal advantage, Haskell adding his second of the game shortly after the break.

But Annetts’ men admirably stuck to the task and Jones again reduced the arrears for the hosts.

The Bees were then hit by an injury to Gale with around 10 minutes left after he pulled up with a hamstring problem. Having made all their substitutions the home side had to finish the game a man light.

Substitute Tom Blair then had two shots saved by the Holt keeper as they pushed for their leveller but Beasley, who was given 90 minutes for the reserves on his continued return from surgery, was eventually the man for the job as he struck home to make it 4-4 deep into stoppage time.

“To draw the game at 3-0 down of course I would have taken that,” Annetts told Echosport.

“But we need to be better in midfield, we didn’t press or get close and we gave them too much time and space. You can’t afford to do that.

“All four goals we could have and should have done better with but, offensively, the lads were very good. We played some nice football, got the ball into decent areas and created a lot of chances.

Going forward I am very pleased, defensively, as a team we need to improve.

“The character the guys showed to come back and get a result was very good.”

The game was also Jack Scovell’s last for the Bees before going to university.

Bees: Cleal, King, S Gale (Neale), Stordy, T Gale, Fleet, Stewart, Scovell (Gape), Baker (Blair), Jones, Beasley. Subs not used: L Annetts, Hadley