BLANDFORD UNITED 2 BRIDPORT RESERVES 3

BRIDPORT Reserves kicked off the new year with a hard-fought victory at Blandford United to go within a point of the Dorset Premier League’s top 10.

With manager Robin Townsend unable to take the reins for the encounter, Mark Lock was given control of the side and delivered the Bees’ seventh league win of the season.

The visitors started slowly and stood off the Royals in the opening exchanges, leading to Dan Vater breaking the deadlock for the hosts with a long-range effort.

However, two calamitous goalkeeping errors allowed Dan Baggs and Jamie Filkins to put the Bees 2-1 up with the wind at their backs.

Bridport were pegged back by a Luke Pidgley strike midway through the second half and at that stage it looked as if the Royals were the more likely to get their noses in front.

But the decisive goal was scored when Dan Peart linked up nicely with Adam Steele and he set Jack Scovell free to drive the ball into the far corner with 15 minutes left.

Jamie Fry pulled off a sublime stop to keep his side in front, and Adam Stordy’s last-ditch challenge late on was crucial.

Lock’s men were then given a huge let off when the home side were awarded a penalty in the final moments of the contest, as Ryan Hayter was deemed to have pushed his man inside the area.

But with the chance to grab a point, Kieron Mulvey spurned the opportunity to make it 3-3, leaving Lock mightily relieved to see the spot-kick drift wide.

“We thought it was a bit harsh at the time and it was virtually the last kick of the game,” he said.

“I was so relieved because we were under the cosh.

“They looked a fitter side than us, but to be fair we have always said we have a lot of skill in our side.

“I was very pleased in the end to get the result and 90 minutes under the players’ belts.”

Blandford manager Bradley Asagba was happy with how his team played for a large portion of the game, but he wasn’t pleased at the way the Royals conceded three times.

“For 70 minutes of the game the team did exactly what I have asked of them,” he said.

“However, if you continue to hand out free goals to any team at any level you will struggle, and we are certainly not at the level where we can afford to give teams in this league a three-goal handicap like we did.

“The Bridport manager should be credited as his team defended well throughout and I am sure Trevor Senior (Bridport first-team boss) will be absolutely thrilled he was able to get so many of his players game time.

“Although for the first time in weeks I can take positives out of a game, we are now back embroiled in a relegation battle, which given the squad we have is quite unacceptable.

“I have a squad capable of being in the top seven and we have lost four on the bounce.”

Bees: Fry, Stordy, Ry Hatyer, Evans, Baggs, T Gale (Herbst), Legg (Steele), Peart (Fouracre), Filkins, Clarke, Scovell.

*Bridport’s Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash with Brislington was postoned due to a waterlogged St Mary’s Field pitch