SHEPTON MALLET 0 BRIDPORT 0

AFTER what was an eminently forgettable scoreless draw at West Shepton, disappointed Bridport manager Ian Hutchinson bemoaned the loss of two points rather than the gaining of one.

The Bees’ boss started with the line up that had fought so well against league leaders Larkhall the previous week.

He said: “I felt that the game was there for the taking but missed chances cost us dearly.

“I though after we had survived the first half kicking up the slope and against the wind, we could take the game by the scruff of the neck and get a win.

“This was not to be but we did record a clean sheet, which is the first time for three games that we have done so.”

After a somewhat tentative start it was the home team who had the first chances.

A long hopeful shot from Ben Goodall sailed clear of Lee Cuff’s goal. A few minutes later Shepton’s leading scorer Ashley Francis had a chance to put the home side ahead but good defending by the Bees’ central defenders robbed him of the opportunity.

The visitors were now able to get back ito the game with a quick break out of defence with Matt Condliffe’s shot being diverted for a corner.

From the set-piece the home defence had to be alert to block shots from Gary Bulman and Dan Wise.

Another good Bees’ move saw Condliffe force a save from Owen Dunn in the home goal.

Bridport were now starting to press but seemed to stall at the edge of the penalty area.

Cuff was lucky to get away without conceding when he rashly committed himself to a hopeless rush off his line. Thankfully the home side were unable to capitalise.

Shortly after this Shepton should have scored when, after the best move of the game, Ben Lacey found himself in front of an open goal. He hesitated long enough for Ryan Hayter to get back and clear from the line.

A great deal of the play was now in the middle of the field with neither side able to take any sort of control and any shots were generally from long distance and neither goalkeeper was troubled.

The second half continued the way of the first and the Bees now had the wind and the slope in their favour.

When Bridport did get the ball down and play they made good progress and gained several corners which failed to trouble the solid home defence.

Although the visitors were now having most of the possession Shepton Mallet were still having a say in matters with quick breaks out of defence.

With the game petering out the Bees were a little fortunate not to concede a penalty after Francis was apparently hauled down in the penalty area by Chris Clarke. The referee waved away the home side’s strident calls for the spot-kick indicating that Clarke had indeed played the ball first.

It was Clarke whose dipping shot in added time came closer than anyone to scoring but the ball went just wide of the angle.

Bees: Cuff, Bulman, T Clarke, Hayter, Lock, Coggins, Senior (Fleet 90), Wise, Evans, A Clarke, Condliffe. Subs not used: Herbst, Hutchinson.

Bookings: Bulman, Hayter, Condliffe, C Clarke.

Attendance: 44