BRADFORD TOWN 3

Hailston 29, Cottle 64, Stocks 77

BRIDPORT 2

Symes 21, Cornish 44

BRIDPORT were on the wrong side of a Bradford Town recovery as the Bobcats clawed back 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to claim a 3-2 victory in an entertaining Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash.

Braeden Symes struck his fourth goal of the season with a wonderful 25-yard effort to put the Bees ahead on 21 minutes.

Will Hailston then beat the offside trap before rounding Jason Hutchings to equalise eight minutes later.

But Bridport regained the lead seconds prior to half-time when Kameron Andrews fizzed a cross into the box for Declan Cornish before the forward jinked inside, beating two defenders, and dinked a finish over Dan Nolan in the home goal.

Bridport had chances after the break to extend their lead, Sam Clark delaying his strike when well-placed while another Symes blockbuster was miraculously kept out by a sprawling Nolan.

Bradford made the Bees pay when Matt Condliffe was caught in possession and the ensuing breakaway found Dan Cottle who slammed home past Hutchings.

The Bobcats were twice lucky to escape a red card when a clean-through Clark was hauled down, before Symes was forcefully upended.

Bradford utilised their rub of the green through a free-kick as captain Tom Stocks tapped home the winner after Hutchings made a superb save.

In a dramatic finale, Jack Witcombe chopped down Josh Williams – again avoiding red – before Cornish headed against the bar from three yards and Williams saw a sweet strike blocked on the line.

Speaking to the Bridport News following the encounter, Bees’ boss Adam Fricker blamed “individual errors” and lenient officiating in defeat.

He said: “Bradford should have been down to 10 men which would possibly have had a big influence on the game. Sam’s gone clean through and could have squared to Kam Andrews who was unmarked.

“Their lad’s scythed him down and the ref’s only given him yellow. Things like that are game changing. The same player then took out Braeden, cleverly stayed down and came off injured.

“They could’ve gone down to 10 again, their right-back’s launched into Josh and the ref bizarrely pulls out a yellow.

“But the last 25 minutes was our own doing, they got their goals from our individual errors.”

Bridport visit third-placed Bitton on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Bees: Hutchings, Regan, King, McGrath, Condliffe, Martin (Williams 80), Peach, Cornish, Symes, Andrews, Clark (Morris 75). Sub not used: Cox.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil