Men's 1st Team vs Newton Abbot Spurs

Bridport completed their season emerging victorious by the odd goal in seven, in a contest with a definite end of season vibe to it writes Jon Smith.

With midfielder Fred Parsons in goal due to regular goalkeeper options unavailability, the home supporters nerves were calmed when he saved the Bees from going behind in the 11th minute when he foiled a one-on-one Spurs attack. Unfortunately on the very next attack, an attempt to punch away a clearance saw him mistime his jump and connect with his fist to an on coming opponents jaw! Toby Pulman confidently converted the resultant penalty, with the ref leniently, but correctly, ruling that it was accidental contact and that a "yellow" was sufficient punishment!

With 27 minutes elapsed Sol Ayunga stole the ball in the centre circle before beating Spurs keeper Kane Gregory from the edge of the penalty area for 1-1. Oscar Lovell prevented the Bees from conceding a second two minutes later, chasing down an attacker before performing a clearing tackle in the box. Six minutes from the break, Ayunga notched his and Bridport's second when having poached the ball from a sleeping defender he nutmegged goalie Kane Gregory.

With the visitors making three substitutions at the break, Bridport seemed be to going at full speed with Riley Weedon, Kieron Daniels and Sam Fisher all having shots saved and Parsons thwarting a close range effort before Fisher scored in the 59th minute, shortly after Newton Abbot had deployed their fifth sub. The teams exchanged chances shortly after with Pullman for NewtonAbbot and Bees stalwart Darren Lock both narrowly avoiding moving the scoreboard. Weedon and Fisher combined in the 67th minute with the latter making it 4-1 for Bridport, but there was more drama to come as Weedon had attempts on goal thwarted when a shot from 30 yards in the 74th minute was tipped over the bar , before chipping a shot bar over the bar from 30 yards three minutes later.

To their credit, Newton Abbot weren't finished. In the 79th minute Spurs reduced the deficit to two, but Bees fans hope of restoring the score differential in the 82nd minute were dashed when Ayunga's shot was well saved. The tension meter kicked up another notch when the visitors brought the score to 4-3 for the Dorset outfit with four minutes to go, but Bridport hung on to finish the league season in second place with a record of P 30 W 23 D4 L 3 F 109 A 45 PTS 70.