BRIDPORT 3

BITTON 2

A LATE spot-kick converted by Mark Salter meant Bridport signed off their league campaign on a high with victory over Bitton at St Mary’s Field.

Having come back from two goals down to record their 10th league triumph of the season, the win means the Bees finish the campaign 16th in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division, with 37 points from their 38 games.

The Bees fell behind early when struggling Bitton, who went into the contest needing a win to have any hope of finishing out of the bottom two, broke from the halfway line and took advantage of a defensive error to open the scoring.

And, despite seeing a lot of the ball, the Bees fell two goals behind before the interval.

Bridport then saw a huge shout for a spot-kick go begging at the end of the half and manager Fricker believed that was the turning point, as his side upped the tempo.

From a corner swung in by Andy Martin, Bridport’s Kameron Andrews headed home to put his side back in the game on 73 minutes.

And seven minutes later, the home side were level. Charlie Hannam, up from the reserves, squared for Josh Hull to tap into the net and level the contest up at 2-2.

And, with 89 minutes on the clock, the pivotal moment in the contest then came.

The visiting keeper was adjudged to have pushed Hull over, resulting in a penalty – one of the Bitton players was also given his marching orders for his reaction to the match official.

Up stepped striker Salter, who held his nerve to send the Bees into the summer on a high.

Fricker told Echosport: “While you don’t want to be 2-0 down at half-time, it was a really good way to finish the season.

“I said to the lads before the game and at half-time that all I wanted was for them to dig in and keep going to the final whistle. We could not have asked any more of them.

“We knew we were up against it but I actually think that helped us, certainly in the second half.”

Visitors Bitton finished the campaign in the relegation places in the division, but will wait to see whether they get a reprieve after Gillingham Town resigned from the league structure.

The Gills are expected to feature in the Dorset Premier League next season.

Bees: Hutchings, Hayter, Hill, Martin, Hannam, Latas, Peach, Andrews, Butcher (Hull 46), Symes (Weedon 73), Salter. Sub not used: Fricker