WAREHAM RANGERS 5

BRIDPORT RESERVES 7

BRIDPORT Reserves overcame Wareham Rangers in a 12-goal thriller at Purbeck Sports Centre to earn their second Dorset Premier League victory of the season.

Dan Baggs and Brandon Scadding each hit braces for the Bees, added to strikes from Ryan Gall, Chris Radiviojsa and Dom McAllister, while Shaun Annetts’ men also hit the woodwork three times.

The reserves’ boss opted to stick with the 4-4-2 formation that was tested in the final minutes of the Bees’ 4-1 loss at Swanage Town & Herston, feeling his players had been “fantastic” in training.

He said: “The players have been fantastic in training. I took the decision to go again with the 4-4-2, it gave us an attacking formation.

“We started well and we looked the better side but against the run of play they got the ball down the left-hand side and they pulled the ball back to the full-back and he smashed the ball past Liam Norris to make it 1-0.

“We played well after that and got a well-deserved equaliser from Ryan. We scored again when Josh Hull unleashed a wonderful shot which hit the post and Chris was the first to react, it was a good finish.

“It came at him at some pace and he controlled it beautifully. We went in at half-time 2-1 up.”

After going 4-1 up through Baggs and Scadding efforts, Annetts made substitutions believing the game to be over, but Rangers roared back.

“Dan rifled home into the bottom corner and Brandon struck a beautiful volley, it was a tremendous strike, he’s not going to hit a sweeter one.

“I took the opportunity to make a few subs thinking the game was ours and Dan managed to get a goal, but they came back and made it 5-4.

“Brandon scored a second to make it 6-4, then they scored to make it 6-5. Then Josh was upended in the box and Dom hit the penalty to make it 7-5,” he said.

Annetts also conceded that he was unhappy with shipping five goals, and added that was something his side needed to “address”.

He said: “Clearly, I’m not happy about that. That’s what we need to address, but overall I’m thrilled with the result, really chuffed for the lads.

Victory over Rangers moves the Bees level on six points with Wareham in 16th, behind only on goal difference. Both sides are clear of pointless Milborne Port and Sherborne Town Reserves.

The reserves have no fixture on Saturday as the club prepares to travel to St Albans to watch the first team in FA Cup third qualifying round action.