HORNDEAN 3

BRIDPORT 1

BRIDPORT crashed out of the FA Cup despite enjoying the majority of the second half possession against their Wessex League Premier Division hosts.

But the damage had been done in a sluggish first half performance when the Bees were slow off the blocks and Horndean took full advantage of their sloping pitch to bombard Trevor Senior’s side.

Bryne McKie’s fifth minute free- kick was met by Tom Chapman whose looping header struck the far post.

However, the reprieve proved short-lived as Gary Austin latched on to a huge clearance from keeper Simon Howard before sliding the ball past Jamie Fry, who was continuing to deputise for the injured Sam Filkins in the Bees’ goal.

Horndean skipper Aaron Fennemore then fired wide before a headed back pass from visiting captain Ryan Hayter nearly put his side in further trouble but Fry raced out to smother the danger.

The Bees’ first effort on goal came in the 15th minute when Tom Richardson picked out Chris Senior, whose shot deflected for a corner.

Darren Watts then lashed a shot high and wide before Austin cut inside at the other end only to see his effort from 20 yards well held by Fry.

Senior then cut out another attempt by Austin but the Bees’ defence was unlocked again in the 29th minute when Nathan Paxton outpaced Adam Symes on the left flank before prodding the ball past the advancing Fry.

Bridport responded in perfect fashion, pulling a goal back five minutes later, when a Dan Wise corner was not properly cleared enabling Steve Evans to rifle home from 18 yards.

The lively McKie nearly restored Horndean’s two-goal advantage but his speculative low shot struck the foot of a post.

Matt Condliffe then went close to levelling the scores when he jinked his way into the six-yard box from the left wing and then watched in anguish as Howard saved his shot with his feet.

In the final action of the first half Wise sent a free-kick just over the crossbar.

The Bees responded to Senior’s half-time team talk and looked the more determined side after the break.

First Chris Senior headed wide from a Wise corner then from Richard-son’s build-up work, Watts fired one attempt off target and later had another scooped up by Howard.

But Horndean’s lively strikeforce were still dangerous at times and Fry did well to claw away a deflected short from Austin.

Sam Charles then failed to capitilise on a good shooting opportunity while Austin also wasted two chances at the other end.

As the Bees upped the pressure in search of the equaliser, substitute Chris Clarke and Evans both had shots blocked, but a slip by Clarke let in Horndean substitute Jack Warren who fired wide from 18 yards.

A Wise drive was pushed over by Howard and from the resultant corner the ball came back out to Wise whose shot was gathered by the alert home gloveman.

As play entered the final stages, another Wise free-kick flew through a crowded penalty area and inches wide for a goal-kick while Fry was forced to race out of his area to head clear at the other end.

Another Wise free-kick was cleared by Fennemore but the with injury time fast expiring, a slip by Hayter, enabled McKie to run through unchallenged and slide the ball past Fry to seal the Bees fate and in the process claim the £1,500 prize-money and Horndean’s place in the first qualifying round draw.

Bees: Fry, Symes (Clarke 46), Condliffe (J.Charles 69), Evans, Senior, Hayter, Richardson, Wise, S Charles, Watts, Legg (Steel 83). Sub not used: Cleall

Horndean: Howard, Smith, Perkins, Shepherd, Chapman, Taylor, Fennemore, McKie, Austin (Prew 90), Fairweather (Warren 63), Paxton (Phillpot 83). Subs not used: Groves, Plomer

Referee: Marcus Carmichael