RESILIENT Bridport fought back from a goal down to defeat Elmore last night and maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.

The Bees had fallen behind on the stroke of half-time at Horsdon Park, but a much improved second-half performance enabled them to run out deserving winners.

Goals from Ryan Dovell and Jamie Symes earned the spoils and lifted the West Dorset outfit up to fifth spot in Toolstation Western League Division One.

Last season, Bridport had required nine games to register two league victories – but this term they have done it at the earliest possible opportunity thanks to an explosive start.

And boss Trevor Senior, who before the match had reminded his charges to guard against being complacent, was understandably delighted with the three points.

He said: “It was a good result for us in the end because we didn’t get going in the first half and it took Elmore’s goal to wake us up.

“We deserved to win the game on chances – even before half-time when we were playing poorly we still created some and could have scored a couple of goals.

“I had a few words with the players at the break, and to their credit they came out in the second half and completely dominated the game.

“The dew made the pitch greasier and that helped us. We played some nice football and operated at a much livelier tempo than we had done in the first half.”

Senior added: “If someone had offered me six points from the first two games I would have been more than happy.

“The main thing was the result but the fact that we played well in the second half was important, because it sets us up for our FA Cup game on Saturday.”

Senior named an unchanged line-up but Bridport struggled to reproduce the dynamic football that had been a feature of their glittering display against Brad-ford Town.

And Elmore, who opened their campaign with a 5-0 defeat, duly went ahead right on half-time when a crisp effort left custodian Sam Filkins with no chance.

The interval arrived at the ideal moment for the Bees, who re-emerged with much more purpose and zip to their forward play.

This culminated in an equaliser on 65 minutes as Dovell headed a pinpoint cross from Symes into the far corner of the net – doubling his season’s tally as a result.

And shortly afterwards, Symes turned from provider to scorer when he finished coolly after fastening on to a through ball by substitute Dan Wise.

By now the visitors were in full command and would have extended their lead had it not been for the woodwork, which saved El-more on three separate occasions.

Bees: Filkins, A Symes, Condliffe, Lock, Senior, Hayter, J Symes (Evans 77) Legg, C Clarke (Moors 60), Dovell, Watts (Wise 63). Attendance: 56