21st January 2012

Dorset Premier League

 

Bridport 2  Sturminster Marshall 2

 

 Starting XI   Stur Star Man: Lee Thomas
 1 Adam Tong    
 2 Jack Geddes   Goals
 3 Steve Johnston   Stur: Lee Thomas (2)
 4 Matt Jones    
 5 Wayne Smith    
 6 Mike Glavin   Substitutes
 7 Luke Geddes   12 Gareth Thomas
 8 Mark Reynolds      
 9 Joe Wood      
10 Lee Thomas  
11 Tim Littler      

Stur travelled to Bridport and twice came from behind to take home a well deserved point.

Bridport went ahead after just two minutes when Stur keeper Adam Tong blocked a close range shot but the ball fell straight to the feet of a Bridport forward who had an easy finish. The goal was about as welcome to Stur as giving Linda McCartney roast hedgehog in a basket for her dinner but the players reaction was positive and they took the game to Bridport. Thirty minutes into the game, Luke Geddes won the ball on the left and hit a cross field pass into the path of Lee Thomas. The Stur striker outpaced the home defence and fired an unstoppable shot past the Bridport keeper.

As half time approached Stur were looking the more likely of the two sides to score, but they were indebted to keeper Adam Tong when he rushed from his line and cleared from the feet of an onrushing Bridport forward. The Stur keeper was cautioned for his enthusiastic challenge, but the subsequent free kick was easily cleared. Matt Jones then forced a good save from the home keeper and the half ended with the scores level.

Stur fell behind for the second time ten minutes into the second half when Tim Littler challenged for the ball in the area. If this had been figure skating, the judges would have been holding up perfect tens for the pirouette and triple salko as executed by the Bridport forward, but the referee pointed to the spot.

The penalty would have had Old Trafford regulars blushing, but once again the players reaction to the setback was pleasing and they immediately went in search of an equaliser.

Lee Thomas pace had caused the Bridport back line problems all game. The Bridport keeper looked favourite to reach a through pass first but the Stur man reached the ball first and nicked it past the surprised keeper and into the net.

What do Jack Geddes and elephant droppings have in common? They are both big, smelly number two’s, except elephant droppings don't get booked for saying nasty things to the referee. In the last minute of added time, Geddes almost made up for his misdemeanour when he played Lee Thomas in on goal. The Stur man hit his shot early but the ball dropped agonisingly over the bar with the Bridport keeper well beaten.