BLANDFORD UNITED 4

BRIDPORT RESERVES 4

BRIDPORT Reserves remarkably fought back to earn a point in a dramatic 4-4 draw at Blandford United on Saturday.

The Bees, without manager Shaun Annetts on the afternoon, showed sublime spirit to fight back, and could have even scored a fifth to overcome the Royals, but for an offside call late on.

Dan Vater opened the scoring for the Royals from the penalty spot to put them ahead at the interval, Paul Ford then made it 2-0 to the hosts just after half-time.

The game looked sealed when Callum Wray added a third 21 minutes from time and then former Terras’ striker Mark Ford joined the party by firing home a fourth on 74 minutes and the Bees seemed completely out of it.

But, almost unbelievably, Bridport fought back.

Having switched their system to 4-3-3, Bridport’s Josh Hunter came off the bench and notched a remarkable hat-trick to put the away side back in it at 4-3.

The leveller then came from a corner that was drilled into the box for Jake Mansley to head home.

Hunter then raced in one-on-one and converted what the away team thought was the winner in the third minute of stoppage time, but they were denied by an offside flag.

With Annetts away, assistant

Simon Gale took charge of the Bees and he was delighted with the fight his charges showed.

“I am absolutely ecstatic for the lads,” he said. “We have a young team and to show commitment, drive and the passion never to give up was a credit to them.

“When these young lads come in they are fit. Other teams start to get tired in the last 20 minutes and our guys just keep going.

“That’s what got us through on Saturday, our fitness and our drive to keep up the tempo.”

Bees: Smith, Evans, Storey, Mansley, Peart (Hunter 46), Mulhall (Bagg 72), Hull, Jefford, Handyside, Kamara, Mann (Davy 72)