A BEN MERCER try two minutes from time secured Plymouth Albion a third consecutive league victory.

It had looked like Albion's hopes of winning at Bedford Blues for the first time since January 2004 had gone when Myles Dorrian scored a try under the posts for the home side in the 74th minute.

That converted score put the Blues two points up, but Albion, who had been the better team in the second half, were not going to be denied and they hit back with a great well-worked try in the corner by Mercer to win 19-16.

The victory moves Albion up to seventh in the table - at least for 24 hours.

Albion, who had lost 38-3 to Bedford in September, were forced to make one change to the team that beat Rotherham last week.

Highly-rated prop Martin Rice joined Premiership giants Wasps in mid-week on a short-term loan, so his place was taken by 20-year-old George Porter, who was making his first league appearance for the club.

Teenager Mark Lee was making his second start after impressing against Rotherham.

Albion, playing down the slope, had the chance to take the lead after less than two minutes when they were awarded a penalty, but Alex Davies missed the tough kick from 45metres on the left.

The visitors then suffered a blow when hooker Joe Clark was forced to leave the field after less than four minutes with an ankle injury. He was replaced by James Owen, who has only just returned from a neck injury.

A minute later Davies had another chance to put Albion ahead, but he missed a second penalty, this time from the right.

Davies' opposite number Myles Dorrian also missed a penalty on 10 minutes - he hit the post after Albion been penalised for not rolling away.

Six minutes later, though, the Blues did go in front when Dorrian kicked a penalty after a good pressing by the home side.

Dorrian doubled Bedford's lead with another penalty on 20 minutes after Rory Watts-Jones was penalised for handling on the floor in his own 22.

But three minutes later Albion scored the first try of the match when Liam Gibson pounced on loose ball by Bedford on the halfway line. He kick forward and picked up before running in from 35 metres.

Davies, having a rare off-day with the boot, could not add the conversion so Albion still trailed.

But nine minutes before half-time they did go in front when teenager Mark Lee scored his first points in league rugby with a penalty on the left.

Bedford have a couple of great chances near the end of the half, but a combination of good Albion defending and poor Bedford handling let them down.

Albion came out much better after the break, despite playing up the slope.

They were held up over the line just two minutes into the second period after a great drive and after further pressure they were awarded a penalty, which Lee put over to make it 11-6.

Dorrian reduced the gap with a penalty of his own on 50 minutes after Albion's front-row lost their temper in a scrum.

But back came Albion, with Lee kicking a penalty almost straight from the restart after the home side were penalised for obstruction.

Albion began to dominate after that and they had a number of good chances to score, including two five-metre scrum and a drop-goal attempt, but those opportunities went begging.

It looked like those chances were going to be costly when Dorrian finally found a gap in Albion's defence after Brad Davies put him clear. Davies added the conversion to make it 16-14 to the home side.

But with time running out, Albion struck.

After some great forward play on Bedford's line, Albion replacement Kieran Hallett throw out a long pass to Mercer, who went over on the right to silence the Goldington Road crowd.

Lee could not add the conversion, but it did not matter as referee Luke Pearce blew up right on 80 minutes.

Next up for Albion is a home game against league leaders Exeter at Brickfields next Saturday.

Bedford: L Fielden, O Dodge, L Roberts, I Vass, I Davey, M Dorrian, N Walshe, D Seal, D Richmond (capt), P Boulton, M Howard, A Rae, G Gillanders, C Goodman, P Tupai. Reps: C Locke, S Walsh, J Harlock, S Harding, W Chudley, B Davies, J Pritchard.

Albion: M Lee, B Mercer, K Fisilau, S Tu'ipulotu, L Gibson, A Davies, R Cushion, G Porter, J Clark, R Hopkins, M Lewis, T Skelding, W Sprangle, R Watts-Jones, K Marriott (capt). Reps: K Hallett, G Kingdom, M Hopper, D Porte, D Clayton, T Hotson, J Owen.

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