WELLINGTON 1

BRIDPORT 0

RESOLUTE Bridport more than gave Wellington a run for their money despite a 1-0 Toolstation Western League Premier Division defeat which saw both teams reduced to 10 men at one stage.

The Bees showed huge grit and determination to keep Wellington at bay for long periods, keeper Greg Taylor pulling off a string of high-class saves.

Rob Marquis’ team began brightly with Tony Carlile going close twice, his best chance a poked effort on the stretch.

Wellington settled afterwards and enjoyed the larger share of possession, with chances beginning to flow.

Taylor, who made numerous top-drawer saves throughout the game, produced a stunning reflex double stop to keep out Glen Wright’s header and block Jake Quick’s follow-up in the 24th minute.

READ MORE: Clevedon Town 5-0 Bridport - match report

But Taylor was beaten two minutes before the break as Quick controlled Josh Champion’s cross before blasting home on the turn.

Taylor was in fine form after the interval, producing two more good saves to set up a nervy final 10 minutes.

Bridport rained in crosses and free-kicks into the Tangerines’ box and caused two goalmouth scrambles.

Curtis Hansford was also well positioned to score, only for a bouncing ball to take an age to come down, allowing Wellington to clear.

As tensions rose, Dan Baggs was sin-binned and Wellington skipper Wright received a straight red for a poor lunging tackle in injury-time.

But the hosts rode out the late pressure to seal a double over the Bees, having beaten them 4-0 in the reverse fixture.

With bottom side Bridport having conceded 12 goals in their previous two games, this performance marked a stark improvement – one recognised by Marquis post-match.

He said: “It was a tight one. We unfortunately switched off, didn’t close the cross quick enough. The lad turned in the box and it was one of those. Perhaps we could’ve done a little bit better.

“Other than that, a very good performance all round – particularly the second half. They were hanging on.

“Greg made some proper worldie saves. It was a fairly even match. I’m disappointed to lose.

“We haven’t turned the corner, but we’re going into it. Hopefully it’s a step forward, we’ll see.”

On Taylor’s display, Marquis said: “If (the shots) had gone in, you wouldn’t have held him responsible.

“He made very, very, very good saves. He did help us out, made a couple of good blocks as well. He had an extremely good game all round.”

Bees: Taylor, Hawker, A Steele, Hansford, Baggs, Owen, Brook (Arnold 65), McAllister, Carlile (James 72), Burwood, Greenwood-Neate.