BRIDPORT RES 2

POOLE BOROUGH 1

BRIDPORT Reserves recorded a valuable 2-1 over Poole Borough to close the gap on the Hornets in the Dorset Premier League table.

The victory helped convince Borough boss Wayne Hawes to step down from his role as first-team manager, with Adam Farmer coming in to take the reins.

But for Adam Herring and his Bees, this was a fourth victory of the season and one that takes them seven points clear of Sherborne Town Reserves.

They remain in 14th, one place above the dreaded bottom two, but are now starting to pick up points to match an improvement in performances.

READ MORE: Bournemouth Sports 2-1 Bridport Reserves - report

Bridport did have to ride out an early storm from the Hornets as goalkeeper Mark Cuff needed to make three outstanding saves to preserve Bridport’s clean sheet.

Cuff’s work was rewarded when Mike Calverley smashed the opener into the bottom corner from inside the box.

Bridport missed a good chance to extend their lead after the break through Ali Kamara and were duly punished when Borough’s Daniele Mirto finished off a cutback.

Bridport responded in the best possible fashion, though, as Kieran Coombs was denied before Kamara squeezed home an accurate shot from a tight angle for 2-1.

And, were it not for an untimely bobble, Bridport sub Juan Arazola would have made it 3-1 with the goal gaping.

But Bridport managed to see the game out to lock up a crucial three points.

Herring told the Bridport News: “Like I said to the lads, with the confidence of the last two games, where we’ve been improving, we’re looking to turn improvement into actual points.

“To play a team just one place above us was an ideal opportunity to get three points.

“With the improvement we’ve been showing, I was hoping we’d get a victory.”

Bridport Reserves next host Merley on Saturday (2pm).

Bees: Cuff, Childs, Elliott, Gall, Mansley, Ricardo, Steele, Taylor (Gee), Coombs (Loader-Mouland), M Calverley (Arazola), Kamara.