BRIDPORT 4 PORTLAND UNITED 2

BRIDPORT hit the ground running in their build-up to the new campaign with an opening pre-season friendly success over Port-land United at St Mary’s Field.

Jamie Symes scored a spectacular 30-yard effort for the Bees inside two minutes and other goals followed through his brother, Adam, Matt Morley and Ryan Dovell – Ross Doidge and Alex Halloran netted for the Blues.

Bees’ boss Trevor Senior, whose men host Melksham Town in their first Toolstation Western League Premier Division fixture on August 9, was pleased with his side’s performance and is now looking forward to visiting Chard Town on Saturday (12.30pm).

“We looked sharp and moved the ball around well,” he said. “Jamie Symes scored after two minutes with probably his first touch back in a Bridport shirt.

“Portland equalised with a penalty but we went up the other end and Matt Morley found the target with a right-foot volley.

“Adam Symes made it 3-1 about 10 minutes before half-time and Ryan Dovell scored a penalty in the second half.

“They had a penalty before the end which took a little bit of a shine off it for us, but all in all I was very pleased.”

Senior gave 35 minutes to trialist and former Weymouth midfielder Richard Marshallsay and used 16 players in all.

He did have a couple of squad members missing for the match, as did Portland counterpart Gary Bailey, whose team has won the Dorset Premier League for the past two seasons.

Turning his attention to the league, Senior added: “We’ve been given quite a tough start with Melksham at home followed by Buckland Athletic away.

“I think Melksham will be a strong side this year and that will be a good test for us first up.”

Bridport entertain Highworth Town in the FA Cup after clashing with Melksham and Buckland, before finishing August with matches against Odd Down (home), Brislington (away) and Willand Rovers (home).

Street visit St Mary’s Field on Boxing Day and Bridport finish their season at Shepton Mallet on April 18.

Meanwhile, Bridport have been drawn at home to Winterbourne United in the first round of the Les Phillips Cup on November 15 (3pm).

TOOLSTATION WESTERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION
AUGUST
Sat 9 Melksham Town (h)
Wed 13 Buckland Athletic (a)
Tues 19 Odd Down (Bath) (h)
Sat 23 Brislington (a)
Tues 26 Willand Rovers (h)
SEPTEMBER
Mon 1 Bishop Sutton (a)
Tues 9 Gillingham Town (a)
Sat 13 Ilfracombe Town (h)
Tues 16 Shepton Mallet (h)
Sat 20 Hallen (a)
Sat 27 Longwell Green Sports (h)
Tues 30 Sherborne Town (h)
OCTOBER
Sat 11 Bitton (a)
Sat 25 Bristol Manor Farm (a)
NOVEMBER
Sat 1 Cadbury Heath (h)
Sat 8 Winterbourne Utd (a)
Sat 22 Bradford Town (h)
Sat 29 Slimbridge (a)
DECEMBER
Sat 6 Melksham Town (a)
Sat 13 Buckland Athletic (h)
Sat 20 Odd Down (Bath) (a)
Fri 26 Street (h)
JANUARY
Sat 3 Brislington (h)
Sat 10 Ilfracombe Town (a)
Sat 17 Hallen (h)
Sat 24 Longwell Green Sports (a)
Sat 31 Bitton (h)
FEBRUARY
Sat 7 Bristol Manor Farm (h)
Sat 14 Cadbury Heath (a)
Sat 21 Winterbourne Utd (h)
Sat 28 Bradford Town (a)
MARCH
Sat 7 Slimbridge (h)
Sat 14 Willand Rovers (a)
Sat 21 Sherborne Town (a)
Sat 28 Bishop Sutton (h)
APRIL
Fri 3 Street (a)
Mon 6 Gillingham Town (h)
Sat 18 Shepton Mallet (a)
FA Cup - Extra Preliminary Round
(August)
Sat 16 Highworth Town (h)
FA Vase - First Qualifying Round (September)
Sat 6 Totton & Eling (h)
Les Phillips Cup First Round
(November)
Sat 15 Winterbourne Utd (h)

Dorset Premier League opening day fixtures: Mere Town v Wareham Rg, Merley Cobham v Parley Sp, Poole B v Bridport Res, Portland Utd v Cranborne, Shaftesbury T v Hamworthy Rec, Sturminster M v Weymouth Res, Swanage T&H v Sherborne Res, Tintinhull v Blandford Utd, Westland v Hamworthy Utd Res.