Bees stop the rot after five defeats (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Bees stop the rot after five defeats

9:29am Wednesday 18th April 2012 in Sport By Adam Summers

ILFRACOMBE TOWN 2 Bridport 2 DAN Wise and Tom Richardson both found the target as Bridport ended a run of five straight defeats at Ilfracombe Town on Saturday.

The Bees went behind after just 12 minutes but got back on level terms early in the second half when Wise scored from the spot following a foul on Ben Clarke.

Richardson then put the visitors in front with a fine left-foot finish at the far post only for an unfortunate ricochet to lead to an Ilfracombe equaliser just moments later.

Bridport boss Trevor Senior, whose side sit 14th in the Toolstation Western Premier Division, said: “The pitch was awful and very difficult to play football on.

“We conceded early on after failing to clear our lines but then went on to dominate the rest of the half.

“Matt Condliffe saw a shot go the wrong side of a post, Tom had two or three chances and Dan forced the keeper into a fine save from 25 yards.

“We just needed to be a bit more positive in front of goal and in the second half we eventually equalised when Ben broke down the right and got brought down in the box.

“Dan stepped up and although the keeper got a hand to his penalty there was just enough power to see it cross the line.

“Within five minutes, we then went 2-1 up when Tom turned in a cross from Dan and at that stage we looked in control.

“However, a lucky ricochet then fell Ilfracombe’s way and that allowed them to break down the wing and get in a cross, which one of their lads headed in at the far post.

“That made it 2-2 but we still could have won it at the death when Adam Symes flicked on a ball from Matt, only for Chris Senior’s effort to go just inches wide.

“We probably deserved all three points but I was happy with one.

“It breaks a sequence of five straight defeats and hopefully we can go on now and finish the season on a high in our final game against Street at home on April 28.”

The Cobblers currently lie ninth but did lose 2-0 against the Bees earlier in the campaign.

Senior added: “Street have strengthened recently so we can expect another tough game.

“We will just have to see how it goes.

“We are on 33 points now and if we could end the season with a win that would be fantastic but there is no pressure at all.

“The main thing now is that the boys just go out and enjoy it.”

Bees: Filkins, M Condliffe, C Clarke (Luke 65), Lock, Hill, Hayter, Legg, Wise, Richardson (Symes 74), B Clarke, Senior.

Bees’ Man of the Match: Ben Clarke