CALNE TOWN 1 BRIDPORT 2 (AET)

BRIDPORT had to dig deep to make it through to the second round of the FA Vase, with Jamie Filkins’ extra-time header giving them a 2-1 win in Wiltshire.

A bobbly pitch didn’t make for a great spectacle at Bremhill View on Saturday, but the Bees battled to victory after the hosts had equalised in second-half injury-time.

“It wasn’t a game that will live long in the memory but the main thing for us was that we got through,” said Bridport boss Trevor Senior.

“All credit to Calne, they gave us a good run for our money, and if it hadn’t been for some good saves by Ashley Weeks they could have won it.

“But, on the other hand, we had chances to kill the game off at 1-0, we just didn’t take them.

“I was pleased with the way we dug in and I don’t think we deserved to lose. I think that over the whole tie the result was just about right.”

The Bees went in front on 25 minutes when Chris Clarke’s long ball found Jamie Symes and he beat the Calne offside trap to make it 1-0.

Both sides created chances in the second half and the visitors could have put the tie to bed after a couple of great saves by Weeks.

Warren Byerley drilled a shot wide and then forced the Calne keeper into a decent stop, while Matt Morley struck a post late on.

However, Calne levelled in added on time, and keeper Jamie Bartlett played a part in the goal.

Having come up for a free-kick, his flick on found team-mate Marcus Lovesey and he netted from six yards to take the game into extra-time.

Bees’ substitute Dan Wise had an effort ruled out for handball in the first period, while Senior’s men were denied a penalty for what looked a blatant foul on Morley in the second half.

But Filkins came up trumps three minutes from the end of the game, planting a header past Bartlett to win it for the Bees.

A cheque for £900 will now be winging its way to St Mary’s Field following Bridport’s first round success.

Bees: Weeks, Condliffe, Clarke, Evans, Stewart (A Symes 110), Hayter, Filkins, J Symes (Wise 70), Byerley (Richardson 100), Dovell, Morley