BUCKLAND ATHLETIC 3 Bridport 2

THE outlook is bright for the Bees, according to Trevor Senior who has been buoyed by recent performances.

The Bridport boss watched his side suffer a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat at Buckland Athletic on Saturday but once again he saw more than enough positive signs to keep him encouraged.

Senior said: “It was a shame we came away with nothing because I felt we deserved something but once again there were a lot of positives, particularly in the second half.

“We have now scored nine goals in our last three games and we are not far away.

“We just need to cut out the odd mistake and have a little more belief.”

With Chris Senior and Alan Hill now travelling in Australia and Matt Condliffe, Jamie Filkins and Chris Clarke all absent at the weekend, Senior was forced into a reshuffle and he thought his players adapted well.

He added: “Of course you are going to miss those players but in the last three games there have been some positive performances.

“Jamie Morgan came in on Saturday and did a good job at left wing-back and Shane Evans did likewise at right wing-back.

“I also thought Max Buckler performed well at sweeper but man of the match was his brother Sam, who was outstanding.”

Buckland appeared to be in for a comfortable afternoon at the break at 2-0 up but Bridport fought back and looked set for a draw until a dramatic strike on 88 minutes left them broken hearted.

Senior said: “In the first half they were the better side but we knew at the break that if we played anything like we did in the previous two games we would stand every chance in the second half and so it proved.

“We came back out a lot more positive and caused them quite a few problems but despite getting back level they managed to grab a late winner.”

Going on to comment on the main incidents in the game, Senior added: “Their first goal came from a throw-in. We failed to stop the cross and one of their lads managed to glance a header into the far corner.

“We also had a couple of chances before they then grabbed a second. This time they got to the byline and pulled the ball back across the face of goal where one of their players managed to tuck it away at the second attempt.

“They deserved their lead at the break but in the second half we responded.

“Ben Clarke made it 2-1 by finding the top corner with the outside of his right foot before a handball in the box saw Dan Wise equalise from the penalty spot.

“They then came back into it and ended up grabbing a third after going close just moments earlier.”

Bridport, who host Cadbury Heath on Saturday (3pm), now lie 10th in the Toolstation Western Premier League, four points adrift of the top five and the same again above the bottom three.

Bees: Filkins, Evans, Morgan (Hailu 89), S Buckler, M Buckler, Hayter, Luke (Ritchie 46), Wise, Dovell, B Clarke, Legg. Sub not used: Rowe.

n The Bees edged into the quarter-finals of the Dorset Senior Cup last night after earning a narrow 2-1 victory over Chickerell United.

Jamie Filkins and Max Buckler grabbed the goals for the Bees before Liam Beades pulled one back in the closing stages.