OFF-COLOUR Bridport surrendered their unblemished league record following a spicy affair against Keynsham Town at St Mary’s Field.

Luke Lipinski bagged the only goal of the game on 33 minutes after a collision between goalkeeper Sam Filkins and Chris Senior had presented him with an unguarded net.

Keynsham were camped on the back foot during second half but in truth the Bees never created enough goalscoring opportunities, nor looked like doing so.

A Jamie Symes header that had to be hacked off the line amid the chaotic closing stages was as near as Bridport came to equalising.

Instead, they were sentenced to their first Toolstation Western League Division One reversal on home soil since January 2 and consequently have dropped to fifth place in the table.

Speaking after a rare defeat, manager Trevor Senior said: “In this match and the ones at Odd Down and Sturminster Newton we haven’t done ourselves justice.

“It was one of those games where they nicked a sloppy goal and we had to try to break them down. We got more bodies in the box in the second half but really only had two chances.

“Teams are going to attempt to stop us from playing and we’ve got to know how to deal with it. “This happened a few times last season when teams would come here and we’d have lots of possession but not manage to score. I’m disappointed but not dejected.”

He added: “Now we’ve got to make sure we stick together and bounce back. Maybe there’s a bit of pressure off us because we’ve lost a match. It’s a new chapter after seven straight wins.”

A well-drilled Keynsham outfit had been set-up to frustrate Bridport and they were determined not to let the hosts indulge in free-flowing football.

Chances at either end were at a premium during the early skirmishes, with makeshift striker Chris Clarke spurning the best of the bunch as he shot straight at Lionel Fear.

Not long afterwards the visitors went ahead when miscomm- unication between Filkins and Chris Senior resulted in the gloveman fumbling a cross, which Lipinski gleefully turned home.

Thereafter Bridport did little to dispel the accusation that they struggle to unlock teams who are content to sit back and absorb pressure, as Keynsham did with much success.

Several home players were uncharacteristically out of sorts and as time ebbed away, the Bees became impatient in their passing and ran out of ideas.

Tempers flared as a simmering contest threatened to boil over, but Keynsham deserved credit for executing their game plan with aplomb – a template other sides may strive to replicate.

Bees: Filkins, A Symes, Condliffe, Lock, Senior, Hayter (Cummings 86), J Symes, Wise, C Clarke (Legg 64), Dovell, Watts (Bulman 79). Booked: Dovell, Lock.

Man of the Match: Ryan Hayter

Attendance: 121