BRIDPORT 2

ELBURTON VILLA 2

BRIDPORT twice came from behind as a brace from new signing Fred Parsons helped the Bees claim a 2-2 draw in their bottom-of-the-table battle with Elburton Villa at St Mary’s Field.

Bridport were coming into the game after an energy-sapping 4-2 extra-time loss at Dorchester Town in midweek.

And in difficult conditions with wind billowing a blanket of rain around the ground, Villa took the lead when Jordon Scadding parried Bentley Alcantara’s shot against Ryan Gall for an own goal.

Alcantara was proving the main danger man for the Bees and he fired off-target twice more before Bridport had their first real effort through Tom Richardson’s header.

READ MORE: Dorchester Town 4-2 Bridport AET - match report

That sparked a spell of Bridport pressure as Kieren Daniels twice went close, with Owen Peart and Riley Weedon also threatening an equaliser.

Bridport remained on top in the second period as Richardson and Weedon failed to find the target, before the introduction of Parsons for Dan Baggs changed the game.

Midfielder Parsons, signed from Lyme Regis, scored two minutes after coming on when he guided a deflected cross home.

But Alcantara got the goal he deserved from 18 yards to restore Villa’s lead on 71 minutes, only for Parsons to rise highest to power home a header two minutes later for 2-2.

Both sides had chances to win late on but could not grasp them as the points were shared.

Post-match, Bees’ boss Chris Herbst said: “I’m happy that we drew and didn’t lose, we could’ve played better.

“I actually had seven missing with five injuries. The conditions weren’t great for both teams and not a lot of good football was played.

“Maybe I’m being a bit hard on myself when I think we could’ve done more. But it’s a point, we haven’t lost, and we move on.

“Saturday and Tuesday, they’ve set the bar high. There are a lot of positives because we came back – but I want to win!”

Bridport travel to Cullompton Rangers on Wednesday (7.30pm).

Bees: Jo Scadding, Daniels, Cox, Gall, Baggs (Parsons 61), King, O Peart (Greenwood-Neate 88), Handyside, Ayunga (Arnold 67), Richardson, Weedon.

Attendance: 138