LARKHALL ATHLETIC 3

BRIDPORT 3

A RYAN Dovell double helped Bridport secure a share of the spoils at Larkhall Athletic.

An own goal gave the Bees an early lead at Plain Ham but the Larks turned the tables with two second-half strikes – the second coming from a debatable penalty decision.

Dovell restored parity once more only for the hosts to regain their slender advantage.

However, the former Dorchester Town striker had the last word in Bath and his second of the afternoon lifted the West Dorset outfit up to eighth in the Toolstation Western Premier Division table.

Delighted boss Trevor Senior said: “It was a very good performance against a decent side, who I thought were better than they were last season.

“We got off to the best possible start and after that they put us under a lot of pressure, but we dug in and worked hard.

“We rode our luck at times with Ryan Hayter hacking one off the line after the ball had hit the crossbar and Sam Filkins making a good double save, but we still had good spells ourselves.

“In the second half, Jamie Filkins had a shot cleared off the line and Russell Legg miscued the rebound before Ryan Dovell’s header was well saved by the keeper.

“They then scored two quick goals which could have been avoided. The second saw Alan Hill, playing his last game before he goes travelling, adjudged to have given away a penalty.

“He was adamant he got the ball but the ref gave it and he didn’t give us any help all game.

“We could have let our heads go down at 2-1 but we battled back and Ryan Dovell scored from a great cross by Jamie Morgan.

“Jamie was then tripped but instead of getting a free-kick the referee waved play on and from the subsequent cross they forced the ball over the line.

“Again we showed great character to come back and Dan Wise put in another good cross for Ryan Dovell to score with a similar header.

“We could even have won it at the death but Ryan Dovell’s left-foot curler just went the wrong side of the upright.

“Overall I was absolutely delighted with the performance from all 14 players.”

Next up for the Bees is Saturday’s visit of Radstock Town.

Bees: S Filkins, Evans (Morgan 72), C Clarke, S Buckler, Hill, Hayter, Luke, Wise, Dovell, J Filkins (B Clarke 68), Legg (M Buckler 68).