BRIDPORT 3 SHERBORNE TOWN 2

BRIDPORT bounced back from two league defeats to claim crucial derby spoils over rivals Sherborne Town at St Mary’s Field.

The Bees marched into a 2-0 lead when Jamie Symes’ strike was not dealt with by the visiting goalkeeper and then Ryan Dovell headed home after some good work by Jamie Filkins and Matt Condliffe on the right flank.

But the hosts were pegged back to 2-1 before the interval after Shane Evans conceded a penalty.

Home keeper Ashley Weeks got a hand to the spot-kick but he was unable to prevent it finding the net.

However, Trevor Senior’s men did not seem to be rattled and further chances fell to Dovell, Warren Byerley and Chris Clarke, who saw his effort cleared off the line.

Bridport’s pressure was then rewarded as Dovell produced an almost identical header from Sean Stewart’s cross to double his tally for the evening.

The Zebras failed to lie down though, and they pulled one back with just under 10 minutes to go.

But Senior’s side held out with relative ease at the end, with the Bees’ boss pleased by how his side performed and, more importantly, the three points they picked up.

He told Echosport: “We usually struggle against Sher-borne but I think we deserved it and it gets us off that 13-point mark which we had been on for a few games.

“We have only got a couple of games scheduled in the league for October and have played a few more than some others who are starting to catch up, so the main thing was to get the three points.”

Bees: Weeks, Condliffe, Clarke, Evans, Stewart, Ry Hayter, J Filkins, J Symes, Byerley (Richardson 75), Dovell, Morley (Anstey 83). Subs not used: Rh Hayter, Bulman

Bees’ Man of the Match: Ryan Dovell

Attendance: 96