Corker from Clarke

8:50am Monday 12th January 2009

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BRIDPORT 2

PORTISHEAD TOWN 1

CHRIS Clarke uncorked the man of the match bubbly on Saturday after his dramatic stoppage-time goal defeated Portishead Town and extended Bridport’s winning streak to three matches.

The phlegmatic central-defender nodded home in the 94th minute to trigger delirious revelry at St Mary’s Field and reinforce the Bees’ reputation for bagging priceless late goals.

Clarke had put the hosts ahead on 16 minutes before Russell Gregory equalised midway through the second half as the game looked destined to end all square.

But buoyed by his earlier exploits, Clarke applied the champagne moment with practically the final touch of the afternoon.

Boss Ian Hutchinson, who maintained a watching brief, claims the significant sum of points his side have scrambled at the death is testament to his players’ fortitude and desire.

He said: “Games are won and lost in the last five minutes and I think we’ve got late goals in six or seven games now and that just shows the players’ character.

“This is a bit of a needle match; we had a few problems up at their place last time so from that point of view it’s very pleasing to put one over them.

“These boys keep coming back for more and there were great scenes in the dressing room afterwards.

“I thought the referee controlled it very well given what type of game it was.”

Despite a catalogue of postponements across the Western League, an 11am pitch inspection was passed and the surface, notwithstanding some stodginess, held up well.

Tom Coggins made his first appearance of the season and the diminutive midfielder’s calmness solidified a 4-4-2 formation in which Simon Radcliffe and Matt Condliffe patrolled either flank.

Much of the early skirmishes were shaded by the home side and when Dan Wise’s skimming free-kick was spilled by Portishead stopper Ian Ganfield, Clarke was ideally placed to profit.

Ganfield’s vulnerability was evident on several occasions he but redeemed himself shortly before half-time by denying Ben Clarke’s close-range snapshot.

Gregory’s arrival at the resumption was the springboard for the visitors’ much-improved second half performance, which culmin-ated in a deserved goal on 69 minutes.

Bridport keeper Lee Cuff elaborately beat away a swerving free-kick but Gregory rose highest from the resultant corner to convert the leveller.

The tally of cautions escalated with five Portishead players booked while Ryan Hayter and skipper Darren Lock were cited for the hosts.

For the third time this season the sides looked inseparable but a free-flowing move involving five Bees’ players forced a corner deep into added time.

And after substitute Jamie Morgan had redirected Radcliffe’s textbook delivery goalwards, Clarke bundled the ball over the line to execute a vintage finish.

Portishead disputed the decision to award a goal and Ganfield was particularly eager to remonstrate with referee Richard Taylor, but their protests went unheeded.

Bridport’s ninth win of the season elevates them to 11th in Toolstation Western League Division One at the halfway point of the campaign.

Bees: Cuff, Hayter, Herbst, Lock, C Clarke, Coggins, Condliffe, Wise, B Clarke (Morgan 71), A Clarke, Radcliffe.

Booked: Lock, Hayter Bees’ Man of the Match (sponsored and donated by the supporters): Chris Clarke Attendance: 104