BRIDPORT made the perfect start to the new season as they returned home with all three points.

The Bees went into Saturday’s Toolstation Western Premier Division curtain-raiser on the back of a “disjointed” pre-season.

But Dan Wise’s opener and a second-half own goal earned victory at Barnstaple Town.

Assistant-manager Mike Savage, whose side lost both of last season’s encounters with the North Devon outfit, said: “I thought we started really well and dominated the first half an hour.

“We had a few half-chances but the ball just wasn’t dropping for us. They had one opportunity in the first 30 minutes but Sam Filkins dealt with it.

“Then, with about 40 minutes gone, a good move down the left saw Dan Peart put it in the box and Matt Condliffe knock it back for Dan Wise, who scored from about 30 yards.

“We deserved the goal but within a minute they had equalised and I was not happy. We had the ball but Russell Legg got robbed and their guy ran 30 yards unchallenged before firing it into the corner.

“It was a good finish but you can’t let people run that far without getting a challenge in.

“They started to get on top in the last few minutes but we came in at half-time and regrouped. I told the lads to get back to playing the way we were at the start of the game, and they did.

“With 15 minutes to go we had a corner, Dan Wise knocked it in and Shane Evans got a flick at the near post.

“I think it was already going in but the ball came off the chest of their defender and went in.

“They had a few more chances after that and it was end to end but we hung on.

“The back three of Ryan Hayter, Alan Hill and Darren Lock were fantastic for us. We needed a good defence and they were the pick of the bunch.

“Barnstaple were a young side and will only get better. I would say they were better than when we played them last season, even though we lost both of those games.”

The Bees will look to continue their fine start to the campaign when they host Wells City tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Bees: S Filkins, Evans, C Clarke, Hill, Hayter, Lock, Legg (J Filkins 70), Wise, Peart (Luke 60), B Clarke (Gale 80), Condliffe.