BRIDPORT 1, DAWLISH TOWN 2

SOME of the old Bridport spirit was rekindled in this stirring tussle at St Mary's Field last night.

The Bees remain in crisis and were so short of players for this Screwfix Direct Premier Division fixture that their reserve game at Westland Sports last night had to be called off.

Yet there were signs, particularly during an upbeat second-half display, that the weeks ahead may not be quite so desperate after all.

Certainly the Bees deserved a point, if not all three, from this entertaining game. They made a string of acceptable chances after the interval but all they could manage was a goal from a free-kick of high quality from Nathan Violet.

Player-manager Derek Walkey said: "I don't know how we can play that well and lose. In the second-half we had about eight or nine half chances and two or three clear ones. But things can go against you when you are under pressure like we are at the moment. You don't get given anything - I thought their first goal was offside."

Dawlish came to Bridport on the back of an excellent opening-day win at Bridgwater. And they wasted no time in giving Bridport's debutant goalkeeper Chris Ryland an early opportunity of pulling off a couple of confidencew-boosting saves.

Dawlish were the busier and more effective side of the opening 30 minutes but the Bees confidence grew as half-time approached.

Andy Cleal marked an industrious midfield performance with a firm 25-yard drive that forced a stretching tip-over save from Jamie Day in the 40th minute.

Bridport gave early second-half notice that they intended to carry the fight to Dawlish. Day dived to his left to keep out a 47th minute free kick from Violet and later safely held a Phil Hussey volley.

But the Bees' best chance fell in the 56th minute when Andy Hitchcock rapped the underside of the crossbar with a 20-yard shot. The ball dropped invitingly at the feet of Cleal but, with the goal at his mercy, he stabbed his shot wide. Three minutes later substitute Gary Fisher finished a determined Dawlish raid with a crisp volley past Ryland to put the Devonians ahead.

Violet brought the scores level in the 69th minute with a classic free-kick which bent around the Dawlish wall and into the net off the inside angle of post and bar.

The goal moved the small crowd into vocal backing of Bridport's push for a morale-lifting win.

But the vital strike came at the other end as Dawlish regained control of the game with the minutes ticking away.

Only 11 minutes were left when the ball was played back from the left by-line and Andy Rollason turned the winner past Ryland.

Bridport: Ryland; Cadman (White 58), Aplin (Eglon 85), Pashen, Cleal, Austin, S Gale, P Hussey, Hitchcock, Violet. Sub (not used): A Gale.