BRIDPORT RESERVES 4

DORCHESTER SPORTS 3

DORCHESTER Sports were defeated 4-3 by Bridport Reserves in a thrilling end-to-end clash at St Mary’s Field in the Dorset Premier League.

Bridport surged into a 4-2 lead, having been pegged back after opening the scoring by a Joel Hewitt double.

Richard Beasley then grabbed a late third to give Sports hope but Sam Handyside, Kriss Radivojsa, Brandon Scadding and Riley Weedon goals proved enough for the hosts to triumph.

Speaking to Echosport after the loss, Sports’ manager Ashley James blamed poor defending for the negative result.

He said: “We can’t defend for our lives at the moment and it’s costing us. It’s been all season, really.

“The goals were borderline embarrassing. It’s a hard time at the moment and we’re asking midfielders to play in defence. During the season we’ve conceded way too many goals and if we want to be challenging at the top we’ve got to address that.”

Sports visit Wareham Rangers in their final game of the season on Saturday (3pm), and James said: “It’s going to be a nice dfeeling at five o’clock on Saturday. It’s been long and tough and all the lads deserve a break.

“Hopefully we can finish with a win, we’ll try our hardest.

“It’s on the 3G where we’ve lost twice this season, so we’ve got to find a way to win because we’ll be playing on it next season (at the Avenue Stadium).”

Jamie Beasley, Ash White and Jamie Samways miss out, but Jamie Symes returns.

Sports: Frost, R Beasley, White, Hopkins (G Harvey 70), Steele, Churchill (Turland 60), Samways (J Will 60), G Will, J Beasley, Rawlings, Hewitt

* Balti Sports end their season against new League Cup winners Westland Sports at Weymouth College on Saturday (3pm).