1st February 2012

BRIDPORT FOOTBALL: Corsham get the breaks as Bees falter

Toolsation Division One

Corsham Town 2 Bridport 0

BRIDPORT failed to build on their narrow win at Radstock Town the previous week when they went down 2-0 to another relegation threatened side Corsham Town on Saturday.

Having put a little daylight between the bottom two clubs last week, the defeat now means that the Bees are only eight points clear.

In a game that saw two tentative sides trying to ensure they did not lose by playing with just one up front, the Bees, and in particular keeper Sam Filkins suffered two pieces of bad luck from which the hosts scored to claim victory.

On a tacky surface not conducive to good football, neither side had created much but with their first serious attack on 37 minutes Corsham scored.

Filkins did well to save a 20 yard shot that came through a ruck of players by pushing it aside, and did even better to block Liam Brown’s fierce angled shot. However the ball rebounded down off his body and under him giving Brown the opportunity to bundle the ball over the line from close in.

Two minutes later full-back Sam Pring fired in a thunderous shot from 35 yards that was destined for the top corner.

Filkins produced a fantastic save, getting across to turn the ball onto the bar and then the post, but unfortunately the ricochet hit the keeper on the back of the head and fell into the net.

With Corsham not having a shot in the second half, things might have been different for Bridport had lone striker Tom Richardson’s effort two minutes after the restart gone in. Breaking through the home defence Richardson’s side footed lob over the keeper had everything but pace, and a defender got back to hack the ball off the line.

Soon after he met a free kick at the far post, but his shot across goal only found the keeper’s arms.

With time running out manager Trevor Senior sent Joe Charles up front, and it almost paid dividends when his header from Dan Wise’s corner beat the keeper but was cleared off the line.

Next Saturday Bridport face another ‘six-pointer’ when they entertain Street who sit one place above them.

Last gasp penalty secures a point

Bridport Reserves 1 Merley Cobham 1

BRIDPORT Reserves had to rely on a 90th minute Ben Clarke penalty to earn a point against Merley Cobham Sports on Saturday.

Despite dictating play and forcing a total of 25 corners, the Bees could not break down a Merley side that clung on desperately for the points until the final moments.

From the last of the corners, the visiting keeper who had played a blinder to keep his side in front, was adjudged to have pushed down on Darren Lock as they both went up for the ball, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Clarke netted with aplomb.

Merley had taken the lead on 25 minutes when Jamie Fry was beaten by a shot from the edge of the box that went through a ruck of players.

Bees joint manager Steve Crabb said: “After that they parked the bus and played one up front and although we had 80 percent of the play we just couldn’t seem to be able to break them down, and when we did their keeper was in good form.

“Unlike last week when I thought a draw was a fair result, I think we deserved to win this one and look on it as two points dropped.

“We should have won having had all the play but we didn’t have that cutting edge or create too much.

However I was pleased with the effort from the lads and the way they kept going to the end, and eventually it paid off.”

Next week Bridport Reserves are away to Blandford United.

Bridport A won 3-1 at second bottom Sturminster Newton Reserves in Dorset League Division Two on Saturday and move up one place to fourth.