Sidmouth 2

Bridport 2

Bridport snatched a late equaliser as they held their own against a formidable second-place Sidmouth in the Walter C Parsons league on Tuesday night. 

Sidmouth came into the game after three wins on the bounce, with the Bees having just won once in their last three, albeit a stunning 6-3 win over Crediton United last time out.

The home side took the lead in the first half despite Bridport dominating possession in the early stages.

But the Bees came from behind twice as first Riley Weedon equalised midway through the second before Will Gape scored late into added time after Sidmouth regained the lead with a penalty moments after Weedon's equaliser.

From the first whistle, Bridport unsettled their Devon opponents with some intense pressure and dominance on the ball. with Harley Brook and James Cox posing constant threats to the Sidmouth defence.

Despite their pressure, Bridport’s final ball was lacking, and the Vikings were fortunate to escape an apparent handball on the edge of the area.

Sidmouth, however, showed their quality on the break and forced a crucial save from Jordan Scadding.

In the 34th minute, capitalizing on a defensive slip by Bridport, Sidmouth struck first, putting the hosts 1-0 ahead.

Bridport responded with a flurry of attempts, but the ball just wouldn’t find the back of the net.

In the second half, Sidmouth adjusted their tactics, slowing down the game to disrupt Bridport’s attacking rhythm.

The Bees struggled to find a breakthrough against the well-organized Sidmouth defence and opted for substitutions to inject fresh energy into the side.

The change paid off in the 72nd minute when Bridport won a corner and managed to equalize through Weedon.

Initially flagged offside by the linesman, the referee overturned the call, correctly noting that Sidmouth had a player on the post.

However, Bridport’s joy was short-lived. Just two minutes later, a defensive lapse allowed a Sidmouth player into the box, resulting in a tackle that awarded Sidmouth a penalty.

They converted, regaining the lead at 2-1.

Determined to fight back, Bridport made additional substitutions, bringing on players with fresh legs and pace.

Their persistence paid off in the 90th minute when Gape found the net, leveling the score at 2-2.

However, in the midst of the celebrations, Brad Rowe picked up a red card after a shove, and the referee’s whistle soon followed, ending the game in dramatic fashion.

Both sides will likely feel they could have taken all three points, and Sidmouth may have been disappointed not to have held on, while Bridport will rue missed opportunities and defensive errors.

However, a point against high-flying Sidmouth is a valuable one, and the Bee's fighting spirit was evident throughout.

The draw leaves Chris Herbst's side in seventh place in the table, and are still eight points behind sixth placed Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police.

Next up is a trip to Torridgeside AFC on Saturday, November 16.