BRIDPORT 2

ROMAN GLASS 2

BRIDPORT returned to action on Saturday with a 2-2 draw against Roman Glass St George at St Mary’s Field but felt they should have come away with all three points after they were denied a late penalty.

Despite the hosts starting well, Bees found themselves a goal down when a Roman Glass player reacted quickest in the box after a looping corner caused some confusion in the Bridport area.

Bees kept pushing and were on top for most of the first half, but were consistently kept at bay by the Roman Glass goalkeeper.

But Bridport could not be kept out before the break. Max Westlake put in a great ball for Lewis Clarke and the winger coolly equalised.

The scores were tied at half time, but Bees boss Jamie Manley said: “If we had taken our chances we would have been going in at least 2-1 up.”

The bees came out fired up for the second half but found themselves going 2-1 down.

The home side responded well though, and a powerful volley from Nathan Walker on the hour mark forced another spectacular save from the away goalkeeper, who was unquestionably the difference between the two sides and the clear man of the match.

Bees kept on going and kept on battling until the equalising goal. Ryan Gall reacted the quickest in the box to strike the ball home and bring Bridport back on level terms.

Jamie Barfoot replaced Tony Pinder late on and Bridport managed to stretch the away side’s defence.

Barfoot was brought down for what looked like an obvious penalty with just minutes remaining, but the referee was not interested in the protests from the Bridport players and coaching staff.

After the game, Manley said: “Bit disappointing really because it felt like we deserved all three points.

“We should have had a stone wall penalty at the end and we created plenty of chances. The lads battled really hard so we definitely deserved at least a point.

“It was a obvious foul and it should have been a penalty. Anywhere else on the pitch it would have been a free kick. If one of our players brought down one of their like that in our box I would expect a penalty to be given the other way around.”

Bridport: Butcher, Clarke, Cornish, Gall, Haines, Holmes, Pinder (Barfoot 80’), Warren, Wells-Burr, Westlake, Gape. Subs not used: Greenwood, Leader.