CADBURY HEATH 1

Akgun 75

BRIDPORT 2

Thompson 8, Dovell 90+4

RYAN Dovell scored a stoppage-time free-kick to hand Bridport their first victory of the season with a 2-1 win at Cadbury Heath in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

Callum Thompson gave Bridport an eighth-minute lead but Heath’s Enis Akgun levelled in the 75th minute to ensure all three results remained possible.

And it was to be Bridport’s day after a testing summer, Dovell rifling home his second set-piece of the season to give the Bees a much-needed tonic.

After heavy 4-1 and 5-0 losses to Exmouth and Plymouth Parkway, plus a 3-0 defeat to Shepton Mallet, Rich Robson’s men were under pressure before meeting the Heathens with limited availability.

Robinson Okumu, Joel Hewitt and Dec Cornish were all unavailable, while Will Gape (hip) is likely to be out for three weeks.

The return of striker Lewis Clarke from a calf injury did boost the Bees, who were forced into fielding regular goalkeeper Scott Wells-Burr at centre-back, with young Jordon Scadding deputising in goal.

Robson had upped the ante pre-match, proclaiming the Bees should beat Cadbury, and midfielder Thompson clearly agreed, scoring a fine early goal.

Former Dorchester man Thompson cut in, ran to the left of the D and drilled a low drive from 18 yards into the home goal.

Bridport held out for a 1-0 half-time lead before the game opened up in the second period with end-to-end action, with Dovell forced into making a goalline clearance.

Both sides’ chances balanced out until Heath scored on the counter, Akgun running 60 yards before slamming past Scadding.

Bridport nearly retook the lead when a fabulous cross from right-back Josh Phillips found Tom Richardson at the back post, but Luke White could not reach his knockdown on the stretch.

Robson introduced Clarke, who almost profited from another knockdown in space at the back post, but after controlling nicely he fixed an effort narrowly wide – to the Bees’ despair.

Bridport might have been excused for settling for a point but Thompson won a free-kick on the edge of the area, allowing Dovell to blast a dramatic 94th-minute winner low into the net.

When asked if sealing his first win as boss was a relief, Robson said: “It is, we expected a tough (start) with Exmouth – I don’t think we were ready for that game.

“We knew Bitton and Plymouth Parkway were going to be very hard. Against Shepton I don’t think we gave a good account of ourselves.

“It’s good to get our first three points and it allows us to start building some momentum, trying to pick up more points – that’s where we want to be.”

Bees: Jordon Scadding, Phillips, Wells-Burr, Gall, Leader, Dovell, Thompson, Richardson, Coombs, White (L Clarke 78), Handyside. Sub not used: Kershaw