Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Bridgwater Town 1, Cadbury Heath 1

BRIDGWATER Town saw victory slip from their grasp in the last minute of normal time as Cadbury Heath earned a point at Fairfax Park.

Harrison Kyte's last-gasp strike cancelled out Jack Taylor's first half effort as Town paid the price for failing to put the game to bed during earlier spells of dominance.

The hosts handed a debut to Brett Trowbridge, back at the Robins on dual-registration with Southern League outfit Street, and he lined up in the centre of midfield alongside Mike Duffy with Sam Towler just off frontman Taylor.

There were few clear-cut chances in the opening stages, with visiting goalkeeper Sam Thomson called into action to make a routine save from a Dave Thorne effort before Towler scuffed wide following a neat move down the left involving Kurt Robinson and Jake Llewellyn.

Bridgwater could have had a penalty on 25 minutes when Tom Ellis, up from the back for a free-kick, was dragged down in the box but the referee, perhaps unsighted, waved play on.

Town broke the deadlock six minutes before the break as Thorne burst forward from right-back and played in Taylor, who picked out the top corner at Thomson's near post with a fine finish from inside the area.

Llewellyn nearly doubled the advantage before the half was out, only to drag his shot wide after a lungbusting run forward from halfway to leave the half-time advantage at the solitary goal.

The hosts stayed on the front foot after the break and chances arrived from set pieces, as Trowbridge and Taylor came close with flicked headers from Ellis' long throws before Ellis himself headed a Towler corner narrowly over the bar.

Town survived a let-off just after the hour when they switched off from a free-kick; the ball was played quickly into striker Sacha Tong, but his lofted effort dropped wide.

Tong had several more efforts off target as the visitors gradually grew into the game, though they were generally restricted to efforts from distance until the very last minute.

A diagonal ball into the box saw Kyte get the wrong side of Kurt Robinson, and the substitute kept his cool to slot the ball through Jake Viney's legs.

Ellis had time to wind up two more long throws in stoppage time, but Town couldn't find a breakthrough and were left to reflect on a frustrating end to a match they really should have won.

Next up for Town is a trip to Hallen on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

Bridgwater Town: Jake Viney, Dave Thorne, Kurt Robinson, Brett Trowbridge, Lee Begg, Tom Ellis, Charlie White (Steve Holland 67), Mike Duffy (Dave Pearse 80), Jack Taylor, Sam Towler, Jake Llewellyn (Syd Camper 86).

Sub not used: Harry Horton

Attendance: 201

Mercury man of the match: Tom Ellis