SHERBORNE TOWN 2 BRIDPORT 2

BRIDPORT boss Trevor Senior felt his side would have beaten Sherborne “easily” had they not been so wasteful in front of goal.

Senior’s men, who travel to Winterbourne United on Saturday (3pm), squandered a number of chances to claim all three points, the best one coming when Ryan Dovell missed a penalty with the score at 2-2.

Dovell gave the visitors the perfect start in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash, heading in a Shane Evans free-kick early on.

But the Zebras stormed back and Luke Winsper jumped on a loose Bridport pass before firing a superb shot past Ashley Weeks.

Winsper, at Raleigh Grove on a dual registration deal with parent club Weymouth, was playing his first 90 minutes in seven months after numerous injury setbacks.

The Bees should have regained the initiative soon after but Darren Watts couldn’t finish off when one-on-one with the home keeper.

Tony Cunningham then took advantage of a slip by Bridport skipper Chris Clarke to put Sherborne in front.

But Clarke made amends for his earlier error, collecting a corner and smashing the ball into the back of the net from 18 yards.

Chances came and went for Senior’s charges in the second half, though the visitors were given a great opportunity to win it in the 76th minute.

Ben Cochrane was harshly adjudged to have brought down Dovell in the box, however, the latter saw his spot-kick saved by keeper Jamie Beale.

Watts, Chris Senior and Dovell all saw chances come and go after that as Bridport had to settle for a point.

“We should have won it easily with the chances we had,” said Senior. “We’ve had three away games now where we’ve dropped points when we shouldn’t have.

“Local derbies like this one are always going to be close but we’ve got to put those chances away – we could have scored five or six.”

Work commitments this weekend mean Dovell will be involved with the reserves, as will Matt Condliffe, while Jamie Symes is hoping to be involved at Winterbourne despite taking a knock to the ankle against Sherborne.

Senior is also set to include youngster Tom Blair in his matchday squad following some impressive displays for the reserves.

Winterbourne, who play their home games on an artificial surface, have lost their last four league matches and are five points behind the 13th-placed Bees in the table.

Bees: Weeks, Hill, Clarke, S Buckler, Senior, Hayter, Stewart (M Buckler 46), Watts (J Symes 72), Dovell, Byerley (Richardson 65), Evans. Subs not used: Beasley, Hadley