BRIDPORT RESERVES 3 MERE TOWN 1

BRIDPORT Reserves made it back-to-back wins in the Dorset Premier League as three first half strikes put them in control against Mere Town at St Mary’s Field.

The Bees lost Jack Scovell midway through the opening period after he took a knock to the hip, but two goals from Tristan Gale and one from Scovell’s replacement Rhys Hayter stunned Mere before the interval.

Gale latched on to a ball from deep to make it 1-0 midway through the half before adding to his tally with around 40 minutes gone.

Good work down the left from the hosts then allowed Dan Baggs to place a pinpoint cross for Hayter to head home and put daylight between the sides despite Mere having their fair share of opportunities.

“We weren’t brilliant by any means but we took our chances and scored three good goals in the first half,” boss Robin Townsend said.

“If I was their manager I would have been very disappointed to come in at half-time losing 3-0, they didn’t deserve that.

“But we were very clinical when in the past we haven’t been. We are starting to learn to frustrate sides.”

And although Mere did pull a goal back in the latter stages with what Townsend described as a “dubious” penalty awarded against his side, the Bees chief was happy to record a 14th league win of the campaign.

Speaking on Gale’s performance, he added: “He is on a bit of a run and seems to have found his form at the moment.

“When it is going for him, with his pace, there is no stopping him. He has had two very good games for us now and we are looking for him to keep that up until the end of the season.

“We want him to carry his form on and as a team we want to go to the end of the season playing with confidence.

“We are okay at the moment but the wheels can easily fall off in this game, so we will try and keep our own house in order and see where it takes us.”

A blow for the Bees could have come from the victory however, as Scovell’s injury may rule him out of Bridport’s clash against Merley Cobham Sports on Saturday and next week’s Dorset Senior Trophy final against Chickerell United.

“He said straight away he was struggling,” Townsend added.

“If Jack doesn’t make the final I will be really disappointed for him. He has been superb this year.”

Bridport currently sit in 10th spot in the division, three points behind Wareham Rangers with a game in hand.

Bees: Fry, Stordy, King, Baggs, Day (Dunlop 60), Herbst, Bulman, Clarke, Fleet, Scovell (Hayter 25), Gale (Fouracre 75).