BRIDPORT RES 0 WESTLAND SPORTS 2 BRIDPORT Reserves gave high-flying Westland Sports a run for their money but eventually succumbed to defeat in the first round of the Magna Dorset Premier League Cup.

Dean Corden opened the scoring midway through the first half at St Mary’s Field and the tie remained in the balance until Sam Jarman’s late spot-kick, following a foul by Sam Day, secured Sports’ progress.

Upbeat joint-manager Steve Crabb said: “We battled away and we were still in the game until we gave away a penalty 10 minutes from time.

“It was a clear penalty and I have no complaints. Perhaps Sam could have held the bloke up rather than make the tackle.

“I was a little disappointed to lose but Westland are a good side and they deserved to win on the day. We certainly pushed them and that’s what we want – we want to compete with the better sides.

“Their expectations are a lot higher than ours but I was pleased with how our boys performed.”

Crabb added: “They scored midway through the first half and it was a good goal on their behalf. They had chances and so did we in what was a fairly even first half.

“They had the elements at their backs in the second half but there wasn’t much between the sides until they scored their second.

“We said before the game that we would give it a real go but if I was offered three points or a place in the next round I would prefer the points as our aim has always been to climb the league and finish as high as we can to get as close to the first team as possible.”

Bees: Fry, Fellows (Ward 65), A Clarke, Day, C Bulman, McAllister, Steele, Hailu (Stordy 60), Morgan, Gale, B Clarke.