Football - Two Counties Cup

From the Echo, first published Thursday 2nd Oct 2003.

Cannie double sinks Bees

Bridport 1 Wimborne Town 3

BRIDPORT are still without a point in the Two Counties Cup after going down to Sydenhams Wessex League side Wimborne Town at St Mary's Field.

A much-changed Bees line-up, which included 16-year-old Jamie Fry, young goalkeeper Lee Cuff and player boss Peter Conning making his first start of the season, did well to hold their higher division opponents for an hour.

But Wimborne's superior firepower eventually paid dividends with two killer goals in the second period, to get them off to a winning start in the competition.

The home side made a disastrous beginning. Just two minutes in, Stuart Cannie's shot deflected up high off Dave Newland and dropped over the luckless Cuff for a bizarre opener.

Cuff made a brave stop at the feet of Cannie moments later following quick thinking from Warren Doyle.

But the Bees made a good recovery from a nervy start, passing the ball around well with Richie Parkinson in the mood up front.

They deservedly levelled on 12 minutes when Marc Hillier, back from a long injury absence, placed a neat lay off into the path of Parkinson, who coolly chipped the ball over the keeper from 25 yards.

Hillier's participation only lasted half an hour as a back problem forced him off to be replaced by Simon Gale.

For Wimborne, Mark Smith was pulling all the strings in midfield, he set up Tom Stainer for a weak effort collected by Cuff and had a go himself from the edge of the box but couldn't get any curl on the shot.

Towards the end of the first period, Bridport, and in particular Conning, were finding more space in behind the visitors' back line.

Conning sent Adam Rose marauding through the middle, but he never got hold of the shot and Stewart Kearn was able to smother.

Then Ian Linney, having a sound game at left wing-back, struck a low drive from long range that Kearn had to parry away.

The half ended in sad circumstances when Doyle went down under an aerial challenge from Newland, and seemingly fell awkwardly on the hard pitch.

Referee Tim Paul sensibly called half time and the restart was delayed by 15 minutes as an ambulance arrived to take Doyle to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

When the half did get underway, Gale immediately had a chance from another brilliant through ball from Conning, but he was caught in two minds whether to shoot or square the ball for Parkinson and ended up doing neither.

Wimborne then enjoyed their best spell of the game, Dean Collins should have done better with a free header that bounced wide, then Scott Arnold tried a delicate lob that went the wrong side of the crossbar.

On 62 minutes, the visitors restored their lead through intricate play on around the penalty that eventually allowed Cannie to turn smartly and fire low into the net.

Stainer had another clear header wide, but the number nine made certain of the win with 15 minutes left, poking home the ball from close range when the Bees failed to clear.

Bees: Cuff, Newland, Grabham (Armstrong 62min), Leach, Rose, Conning (Greeno 75min), Fry, Linney, Hillier (Gale 34min), Parkinson, Foote. Sun not used: Thoday.

Att: 65

Bees man of the match: Richie Parkinson

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