DORCHESTER SPORTS 1

BRIDPORT RES 1

DORCHESTER Sports’ wait to break a sequence of winless results goes on after an action-packed 1-1 Dorset Premier League draw with Bridport Reserves at the Clayson Stadium.

Ashley James’ men have not won since December 1, when a 3-0 scoreline handed Sports victory over then bottom side Sturminster Newton United.

A goalless first half saw the hosts have plenty of possession until moves consistently broke down in the final third.

However, Sports got their breakthrough on the hour when Will Turland smashed past Bees’ goalkeeper Billy Fleet to hand his side the initiative.

The county town side’s lead was to last just 10 minutes when predatory finishing from striker Robin Jones at a corner got Shaun Annetts’ men back on level terms.

Sports had to weather a late storm when Bridport twice hit the bar, while Dan Peart’s free-kick forced an excellent stop from Sports’ gloveman Antony Frost.

Speaking to Echosport following the clash, James felt neither team’s performance warranted a defeat.

He said: “It was quite even, I don’t think both teams deserved to lose the game.

“I thought Bridport probably did more to win the game and created more chances than us. They’ll probably be a bit frustrated that they didn’t win.

“But we’re quite happy with a point. Both teams had a few chances – in the end it was a fair result.”

Sports’ lack of ruthlessness in the final third did not pass James by.

He said: “We got into the final third without really testing their keeper too much.

“We had a lot of possession and got in some good areas but it broke down a little bit too easily in the final third.

“We played well and we can take some positives from it.”

James added: “They hit the bar a couple of times, but theirs was from long-range. Alex Gould cleared one off the line as well for us.

“Then obviously the free-kick at the end where we’ve seen Dan do it for us a couple of times, a direct free-kick, hit the top corner in stoppage-time, but Antony made a good save to deny him.

“They did have the more clear-cut chances but we did play well and take some positives from it.

“We just wanted to try and stop conceding silly goals and we seemed to be doing that. Their main strikes were from 20-25 yards.”

Sports: Frost, W Gould (Hopkins 60), A Gould, Read, Quinton (Gatehouse 73), A Steele, Samways (Puttock 73), Rawlings, Amor, Turland, Ross

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil