Soaring confidence gives Bridport hope (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Soaring confidence gives Bridport hope

11:00am Wednesday 27th February 2013 in Sport By David Williams, Sports Reporter

CONFIDENCE levels are up at Bridport, according to manager Trevor Senior following the Bees’ first league victory in 12 attempts.

A late Dan Wise goal gave the side a dramatic 4-3 win over Hallen last weekend, meaning they go into this Saturday’s home clash with Odd Down (3pm) unbeaten in three Toolstation Western Premier Division outings.

Another success would boost their chances of avoiding the drop and they have the added bonus of welcoming Michael Hailu back into the squad after he was unavailable for the Hallen triumph. Russell Legg starts a two-match suspension and misses out.

“The confidence is back,” admitted Senior. “Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards and we’ve got to keep taking advantage of our home games and keep the run going.

“We’re still third bottom in the table but it looks a bit healthier and if we keep matching the two sides below us we’ll be okay.

“It has helped having Jamie Symes in the side and with Dan Wise and Chris Luke the midfield has been working really well together.

“Russell Legg has been suspended and hasn’t been able to get back in the side but that shows how much competition there is.

“And it’s been good to have a midweek off this week as the lads were saying after Saturday’s match that having not had a game for a long time, to then have three in a week took it out of them.”

Senior conceded the luck was with his side at St Mary’s Field on Saturday as Wise netted his 100th Bees goal before getting a contentious late winner.

Wise opened the scoring on 11 minutes with a strike from 12 yards before Hallen equalised from a corner just after the half hour mark.

Ryan Dovell made it 2-1 just before the break then a Hallen player put through his own net on 48 minutes – but the visitors fought back and in no time were on level terms.

Bridport’s Ben Clarke had a goal chalked off when the ball appeared to cross the line and in the closing stages Wise struck a free kick that most watching did not think had gone over the whitewash yet the assistant gave it.

Senior was more than happy to accept his team’s fortitude. He said: “The Hallen players said the first one did cross the line and the second one didn’t so it looks like the officials got it the wrong way round.

“We had a little bit of luck but no more than the lads deserved.

“I would have taken a point at 3-3 so was very pleased with the three points and as it turned out with other teams around us winning they were even more important. The lads deserved it and it was nice to see a smile on their faces afterwards.

“And they were joking that because it had been so long since they’d won they had forgotten what to do afterwards.”

Bees: S Filkins, J Filkins, Condliffe, Stordy, C Clarke, R Hayter (capt), Luke, Wise, Dovell, Symes, B Clarke (Ritchie 71). Subs not used: Legg, Richardson, A Clarke, Evans