BRIDPORT 2 BRADFORD TOWN 4

BRIDPORT squandered a two-goal lead as they slumped to defeat against Bradford Town at St Mary’s Field last night.

Powerhouse striker Ashley Clarke made a welcome return to form with a goal in either half to put the Bees firmly in the driving seat.

Safeguarding a comfortable position with fewer than 20 minutes left on the clock, victory looked a mere formality.

However, a penalty awoke Bradford and they ran riot by scoring three times in the final quarter-hour as Bridport imploded.

Few could have envisaged such a dramatic turnaround to a game that looked to be going the home side’s way from the moment Clarke opened the scoring.

The Bees had kept the visitors’ star striker Matty Minnis under wraps and created several openings before their burly target man fired home on 30 minutes.

Keeper Lewis Porter saved Matt Condliffe’s original shot only for the ball to be lofted back into the danger area where Clarke applied the finishing touch.

Attacking the Beehive, Bridport maintained their foothold on proceedings but were indebted to Cuff for a tremendous save to foil Toby Col-bourne’s close-range effort.

Boss Ian Hutchinson had drafted in Chris Herbst to the vacant left-back position after Chris Clarke had moved into central defence to cover for the unavailable Ryan Hayter.

The new-look defence coped with much of Bradford’s attacking ventures and this was mirrored in the early stages of the second period.

Shane Evans, who has been woefully short of goals this season, spurned an excellent chance to double his side’s lead, lobbing Porter but also the crossbar from close range.

But this was forgotten moments later when Clarke turned Evans’ low cross into the net, much to the delight of the home faithful.

Bradford sought a swift riposte and got it nine minutes later when referee Mike Long, deputising for Alistair Salter who limped off injured, penalised Chris Clarke for a foul inside the box.

Colbourne made no mistake from the spot and suddenly the match took on a different complexion.

Dan Shanley nodded Liam Mil-burn’s corner into the net to restore parity before a defensive mix-up allowed Minnis to break his shackles and thrust Bradford into the ascendancy.

And two minutes from time, Minnis equalled Ashley Clarke’s exploits by notching his second of the night to cap a remarkable comeback.

The full-time whistle left the Bees visibly deflated while Bradford’s promotion ambitions have been rekindled.

Bees: Cuff, G Bulman, Herbst, C Clarke, Lock, Coggins, Senior (Legg 78), Wise, Evans, C Clarke, Condliffe. Subs not used: McClements, Stordy Bees’ Man of the Match (sponsored and donated by the supporters): Chris Clarke