Bridport Reserves 3-3 Dorchester Sports: Alfie Ward hits 90th-minute leveller

DORCHESTER SPORTS 3

BRIDPORT Reserves clinched a late 3-3 draw at St Mary’s Field to stun Dorchester Sports and complete a remarkable turnaround in their Jewson Dorset Premier League derby.

Chris Herbst’s men were trailing 3-0 at the break after Sports dominated the first half, Nick Voss scoring twice and claiming a third for a hat-trick despite suspicions of an own goal.

But the Bees came roaring back in the second 45 as Riley Weedon netted a clinical brace before Alfie Ward’s brilliant half-volley handed the hosts a point in the 90th minute.

Bridport’s comeback was made sweeter by the fact that Herbst lost five players to the first team, who were hampered by injuries and unavailability for their trip to Helston.

READ MORE: Helston Athletic 6-0 Bridport - match report

Herbst struggled for a full team until late on Friday and only added a second sub in Kieran McAllister just hours before kick-off.

And his efforts seemed to be going up in smoke when Sports began superbly on what was a tricky surface.

Charlie Gosney stroked in an inviting cross for Voss to finish past keeper Mark Tozer at the back post for 1-0 and Voss headed home after a goalmouth scramble to double the visitors’ lead.

Their third was equally scrappy as an error from Tozer – who had earlier made several saves – allowed Voss to stab home via a Bridport defender.

Nick Voss scored twice and claimed a hat-trick despite suspicions of an own goal Picture: IAN MIDDLEBROOK

Sports looked to be on course for a comfortable victory having completely dominated the first half.

That was until the 70th minute when Weedon’s fine individual run was topped off with a cool finish past ex-Poole and Dorchester keeper Nick Hutchings.

Just five minutes remained as the score stayed at 3-1, but Bridport had designs on a point when a long ball caught the away defence asleep, allowing Weedon to stroll in and scorch a volley across Hutchings for 3-2.

The Bees sensed a last-gasp point and the home faithful were not disappointed as Ward kept his composure following a corner to control and then lash home at the back post.

Speaking to Echosport, Herbst said: “The first half was hard because the wind was ridiculous. We couldn’t really get out of our half.

“We couldn’t deal with Dorch Sports’ movement. It wasn’t until 10 minutes before the end (of the half) that we got it down and played a little bit.

“At half-time I said we needed to go out and get the first goal because anything can happen, and it did. I’m over the moon.

“We lost five to the first team so I was left with seven players on Thursday night. Everyone rallied around and it was great, all the supporters were happy – it was a good game.”

On Ward’s equaliser, he said: “It was a ball into the box and it was a scramble, it’s bounced up and he’s hit it on the half volley into the far corner.

“He only really scores good goals, he can’t score a tap-in!”

Herbst’s opposite number Ashley James felt his side may have been guilty of complacency in the second half.

He said: “First half was the best football we’ve played all season. I think if we’d have gone in at six or seven Bridport wouldn’t have had any complaints at all.

“Some of the football we played on a difficult surface was unbelievable.

“But it’s hard to explain, I don’t know what happened. As a collective we obviously underestimated them second half, we thought the game was won.

“Coaches included, we made the wrong decisions and got punished for it because the second half was horrific.

“It must’ve been complacency because the first half was unbelievable. It just turned in their favour and they deserved their equaliser.”

The loss of two points late on subsequently put Sports five adrift of Merley in second.

Bees: Tozer, Herbst, Wyrill, Baker (McAllister 55), Adler, Condliffe, Gape, Etherington (Day 75), Ward, Weedon, Jones.

Sports: Hutchings, Bessant, Tennant, J Steele, Quinton, Brumble (Reid 50), Samways (O’Shaughnessy 46), G Will (Watts 60), Gosney, Godfrey, Voss.