Byerley's blast shatters Glass (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Byerley's blast shatters Glass

10:30am Monday 1st February 2010

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DEBUTANT Warren Byerley announced himself in spectacular fashion with a goal that inspired Bridport to their first league victory since November.

The former Hamworthy United marksman powered home a bullet header from a Dan Wise corner to earn his new side maximum points away to Roman Glass St George.

As well as underlining his pedigree with the game-changing moment, Byerley also provided the Bees with a much-needed cutting edge.

Perhaps this triumph, coupled with the hugely encouraging Les Phillips Cup defeat of higher-league Brislington, will prove to be the catalyst for a prosperous run-in.

For Bridport have now kept back-to-back clean sheets and jumped to 15th in Toolstation Western League Division One, leapfrogging Roman Glass in the process.

During his post-match appraisal, boss Trevor Senior described his charges’ performance as “professional” before highlighting the influence of Byerley.

He said: “The pitch was terrible but we still managed to play some decent football on it. We thoroughly deserved to win because we put in a good, professional display.

“In the first half we didn’t get the ball forward as often as I would have liked but the guys took what I said on board and we got crosses in from decent areas after the break.

“Warren looked dangerous when he got the ball and I was pleased for him because this was his first game since September.

“He did very well and I think he enjoyed the brand of football we played. He knows if he is given good service then he will deliver, and that applies to Matt Moors as well.

“Hopefully Dorchester will continue to win so Warren will stay with us longer. He’s not fully match-fit yet but 90 minutes would have done him the world of good.”

Another new face in the starting line-up was 16-year-old goalkeeper Andy Suttle, who was handed his debut after signing forms on Thursday night.

Senior had been unable to lure Lee Cleal back to Bridport, but Dorchester Under-18s’ stopper Suttle was unfazed by his inclusion and did all that was asked of him.

A largely uneventful opening period was followed by a second half that sparked into life once Byerley had opened his account on the hour-mark.

And he was close to notching another when his curling effort cannoned off the bar, before an ill-timed bobble scuppered a Darren Watts effort that skewed harmlessly wide.

Though victory always looked likely, it needed a miraculous clearance by a backpedalling Chris Senior to ensure the Bees returned to West Dorset with much to celebrate.

Bees: Suttle, Condliffe, C Clarke, Lock, Hill, Hayter, Jones (Senior 65), Wise, Byerley, Watts, Moors (J Symes 85).

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