BRIDPORT 4 STREET 4

BRIDPORT served up a dramatic climax to their campaign by letting a four-goal lead slip through their fingers at St Mary’s Field.

The Bees went 3-0 up in the first 15 minutes and then added another after the break before Street mounted an incredible comeback to snatch an unlikely point.

Chris Clarke opened the scoring from a corner before Tom Richardson set up Chris Senior for the second just two minutes later.

Ben Clarke then turned in another set-piece and although the Cobblers did hit a post and miss a gilt-edged chance after a fluffed clearance from home keeper Sam Filkins, a three-goal lead at the break was exactly what the dominant Bees deserved.

Chris Clarke then rounded the visiting stopper to add a fourth in the early stages of the second half, only for Street to somehow turn the tables with four goals in 20 minutes to deny the home side what at one stage had looked like a guaranteed three points.

Bees’ boss Trevor Senior told Echosport: “In the first half we created quite a few chances and at 4-0 up in the second it should have been game over. However, as soon as they pulled two back, we collapsed for 10 minutes and in the end were left holding on.

“It was an entertaining game for the neutral but not for us and in many ways it showed the two sides of Bridport.”

The Bees have finished fifth-bottom in the Toolstation Western Premier Division and Senior is expecting his men to come back stronger next season.

He added: “Compared to winning promotion last season, this past year has been very different but it has been very much a learning curve for the lads and there are a lot of positives we can build on now for next season.

“The lads couldn’t have given anymore and apart from three or four below-par performances, we have always been competitive.

“Our main problem has been failing to take our chances and if we can work on that and add some more goals to the side, I am sure we will come back next season a lot stronger.”

Bees (from): Filkins, Condliffe (Symes 67), C Clarke, D Lock, Hill, Hayter, Legg (Morgan 67), Wise, Richardson, B Clarke (Luke 62), Senior.