DORCHESTER SPORTS 3

BRIDPORT RESERVES 3

DORCHESTER Sports surrendered a 3-0 lead as 10-man Bridport Reserves staged a stunning fightback to take a 3-3 draw from their Dorset Premier League battle at the Clayson Stadium.

Sports have struggled at home in the league this season, recording just two wins from five games – although Ashley James’ men remain unbeaten on their own patch.

Few could have foreseen the dramatic turnaround in what looked a sure-fire Sports win with 25 minutes to play.

Jamie Quinton set Sports on their way, converting a cross from close range on 25 minutes before Brandon Heal hit the crossbar with a header from a Jamie Samways corner.

Alex Stafie was then twice denied by talented young keeper Jordon Scadding, who kept the score 1-0 into half-time.

James’ troops continued to dominate as Quinton grabbed his second with a predatory strike in the box, before the forward was bundled over in the area when poised to score a hat-trick.

Stafie took the resulting penalty and buried his finish past Scadding for 3-0 with two thirds of the game gone.

However, a stray backpass from the hosts let Bees’ striker Robin Jones in for 3-1, before Bridport’s Riley Weedon was first sin-binned and then sent off for dissent.

Weedon’s dismissal galvanised the visitors, who then pulled it back to 3-2 when Josh Hull’s brilliant strike flashed past Antony Frost in the Sports’ goal.

Sports were wobbling at this stage and conceded a penalty which was saved by Frost before Thomas Hyde smashed in the rebound for 3-3.

Bridport looked likelier to score in the closing moments but could not find a winner – much to a stunned Sports’ relief.

Speaking to Echosport, James said: “It was complacency. We thought the game was won.

“The momentum completely changed once they scored the first one. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do but hope they don’t get back into it.

“Fair play to them. They were the ones who were closest to winning it in the end.

“We’ve only got ourselves to blame and it’s another two points dropped at home.”

Opposing boss Shaun Annetts said: “We got out of jail a bit because they could’ve easily been 3-0 up in 30 minutes.

“To do what we did showed a lot of desire and togetherness. We’ve got to take that to our game on Saturday (against Portland Reserves).

“Portland are just above us and it’s a massive game.”

Sports: Frost, Smith, Peart, Critchell, W Gould, Samways, Hansford, Hill, Heal (Wash 65), Stafie, Quinton (G Harvey 75). Subs not used: Ross, Kendrick.

Bees: Carlile, Hyde, Hull, Jones, Lowden, Middleton (R Harvey 70), B Scadding, Ja Scadding, Jo Scadding, Strelley, Weedon.