BRIDPORT 1 CADBURY HEATH 1

BRIDPORT finally found their touch in front of goal but had to make do with a point after conceding a late equaliser at St Mary’s Field.

Jamie Symes ended the Bees’ run of three games without scoring as he turned in a 76th-minute corner to put the hosts ahead.

However, they couldn’t hold on and Cadbury Heath forced a draw when Chris Senior turned the ball into his own net near the end.

Despite arriving late in West Dorset due to traffic problems, the visitors made the better start and had the ball in the Bridport net just three minutes in.

Fortunately for Trevor Senior’s men, a linesman’s flag came to their aid and the Heathens were denied.

Sacha Tong then fired over for the away side and Kristian Lee did the same before Bridport registered their first effort on target.

Sixty seconds after Shane Evans, playing up front as a makeshift striker, tried his luck, Sean Stewart was denied by Heathens’ keeper Simon Craw-ford.

Bees’ stopper Ashley Weeks had to be alert to keep out another Tong attempt, while Chris Senior got his body in the way of a George Boon effort.

The first half finished goalless as Bridport’s goal drought continued, and it was Cadbury Heath who got out of the blocks the quickest after the interval.

Boss Senior decided to make a double change on 64 minutes, bringing Symes and Chris Clarke on for Rhys Hayter and Jamie Filkins.

And the hosts’ play slowly began to improve, and Crawford had to be at his very best to pull off a couple of superb saves in the 76th minute.

But seconds after that double stop there was nothing he could do to prevent Symes powering the ball home.

Matt Morley then hit the side- netting three minutes later, but Huxley showed the Heathens were far from out of it when he went one-on-one with Weeks.

Huxley’s effort lacked any power, however, in the 90th minute, the ball came off the chest of the unlucky Chris Senior and went beyond Weeks.

Bridport will have to put the disappointment of dropping two points behind them when they host Willand Rovers in the second round of the Les Phillips Cup on Saturday.

Bees: Weeks, Condliffe, Morley (Gale 82), Hill, Senior, Ry Hayter, J Filkins (Clarke 64), Wise, Evans, Rh Hayter (Symes 64), Stewart. Subs not used: Richardson, S Filkins

Man of the match: Alan Hill

Attendance: 54