BRIDPORT 3 Portland UTD 2

BRIDPORT produced a stirring late fightback to defeat Portland United at St Mary’s Field last night.

Following a fruitless first period, Nick Etherington and Josh Houghton gave the Dorset Premier League Blues a seemingly unassailable two-goal advantage with just 13 minutes to play.

But Matt Moors halved the deficit immediately afterwards before Dan Wise – via the penalty spot – and Adam Symes struck in the dying stages to complete the turnaround Trevor Senior’s charges have won two and drawn two so far this pre-season, as their preparation for the new league campaign gathers pace.

Portland enjoyed the better of a largely forgettable first half, and with clear-cut chances at a premium, speculative efforts from long range were the order of the day.

However, what the opening period lacked, the second half more than made up for as a host of substitutions from both benches enlivened proceedings.

Bees’ custodian Sam Filkins had been alert enough to beat away an Alex Godfrey snapshot before Portland broke the deadlock courtesy of Etherington’s header from a Steve Churchill cross.

Bridport suddenly appeared rattled and but for Filkins, who pulled off a string of smart stops, they could have been brushed aside by a young and energetic Blues’ outfit.

Despite their lower-league status, the visitors refused to sit back and defend their lead and instead opted to hunt for a second goal to enhance their position.

And it arrived on 77 minutes when substitute Houghton poked the ball past Filkins with the aid of a deflection.

Bridport desperately needed to respond and just 60 seconds later they did exactly that when Moors slipped the ball past Nick Carroll to generate hope.

A foul on Dan Jones on 88 minutes then enabled Wise to level from the spot before Adam Symes hit the winner following a Moors flick-on.

The Bees, for whom Shane Evans appeared as a second-half replacement, entertain Toolstation Western League Premier Division outfit Sherborne Town tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Bees: Filkins, A Symes, Condliffe (Legg 46), Lock, Senior, Hayter (Moors 46), J Symes (Jones 56), Wise, Cummings (Evans 56), Dovell, Watts.

Blues: Gifford (Carroll 46), Austin (McKay 46), Wells, Cranny (Turrell 46), Carter, Miles (Churchill 46), Godfrey (Patterson 64), Coggins (Houghton 64), Beads (Linaker 46), Etherington (Boatswain 64), Smith.