Savage upbeat despite Rec reversal (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Savage upbeat despite Rec reversal

9:38am Monday 8th February 2010

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MANAGER Mike Savage was brimming with optimism even though Bridport Reserves tumbled to their fourth successive Dorset Premier League reversal on Saturday.

The Bees had faced a mountainous task in trying to upstage unbeaten leaders Hamworthy Recreation on their own patch.

And although the second-bottom visitors returned to West Dorset with no tangible reward, they had acquitted themselves with great heart.

For Rec needed two goals in the final three minutes to finally extinguish a strong-willed Bridport outfit who dominated the second half.

The home side took the lead on five minutes and then doubled it on the half-hour mark from the penalty spot, though the Bees felt there had been no wrongdoing.

However, a Ben Clarke goal shortly before half-time gave the visitors a lifeline and they emerged for the second period with renewed confidence.

Chris Symes and Roger Cummings both went close to equalising, while Clarke planted a header into the side netting from four yards when it had been easier to score.

With time ebbing away, the reserves piled men forward but paid the price for being short of numbers at the back as they were twice caught on the break.

Savage, who persuaded Lee Cleal to resume goalkeeping duties, said: “The scoreline makes it look like a drubbing but it wasn’t. Our performance was a joy to watch at times.

“We bombarded them in the second half and bossed the game. If we continue to play like that we won’t have many problems.

“Hamworthy’s manager came up to me at the end and said that they hadn’t been under that much pressure many times this season.

“The boys are gutted because they know that we didn’t deserve to lose 4-1, but I’ve told them to keep their heads up because we can build from this.

“We have another tough league game away at Poole Borough next Saturday but I think we have a good chance of getting something there.”

Bees Reserves: Cleal, Maidment (Gale 85), C Bulman, Fry, A Clarke, Stordy, Coggins, M Bulman (C Symes 60), Cummings, B Clarke, A Symes.

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