Symes at the double again

TEENAGER Jamie Symes continued his purple patch last night by netting both goals as Bridport beat Oldland Abbotonians to climb to third in the table.

Symes chalked up a first-half double at St Mary’s Field to carry the Bees to their fourth successive Toolstation Western League Division One triumph and keep their perfect record intact.

Oldland grabbed a late consolation through skipper Dan Bryant, but he and Mark Pocock were given their marching orders as the visitors ended with nine men.

Bridport’s win has seen them move level on points with Hengrove Athletic and Gillingham Town, both of whom have a superior goal difference.

Manager Trevor Senior had kept faith with the starting line-up and formation that downed Roman Glass St George on Saturday, with Ryan Dovell again featuring as a lone striker.

Many observers felt Oldland would present the Bees with a stiff examination, but instead the first half was one-way traffic once Symes broke the deadlock on 11 minutes.

Christmas may be four months away, but the visitors were clearly in a charitable mood as they provided the 17-year-old with a gift-wrapped opportunity that he was only too happy to accept.

Kamikaze defending saw Symes fasten on to a suicidal backpass and calmly clip the ball over onrushing gloveman Nick Yeo.

A shell-shocked Oldland continued to look vulnerable defensively and after a couple of near misses, Bridport doubled their advantage shortly before half-time.

Midfield schemer Dan Wise collected the ball in the centre of the park and found Symes, who showed considerable composure to chip Yeo and take his tally to six goals in three games.

A vicious, dipping volley from Russell Legg then forced an outstanding save from the much-maligned Yeo, but Oldland had it all to do in the second period.

The visitors responded well and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession after the interval, but they were unable to find a way past Sam Filkins, who had virtually been a spectator in the first half.

Bridport, who had kept Oldland’s star striker Matt Huxley shackled, were content to be playing on the counter-attack, and gained a numerical advantage when Pocock was sent off for his second bookable offence.

Bryant set up a tense finale by nodding home a corner in stoppage time, only to be shown a red card shortly afterwards for violent conduct against Shane Evans.

Tempers threatened to boil over but the final whistle sounded and the Bees celebrated another commendable result that only reinforced their status as a team to watch out for this season.

Bees: Filkins, A Symes, Condliffe, Lock, Senior, Hayter, J Symes, Wise, Legg, Dovell (Evans 81), Watts, Booked: Hayter, A Symes, Legg, Evans, Man of the Match: Ryan Dovell Attendance: 105