BUCKLAND ATHLETIC 3

BRIDPORT 1

WHILE there were plenty of positives for Bridport manager Adam Fricker to take from his side’s performance at Buckland, they were undone in the second half by their in-form opposition at Homers Heath.

The Bees took the lead in the encounter through striker Mark Salter on 21 minutes.

He tapped home after Ed Butcher burst forward and unselfishly rolled the ball across goal for the experienced frontman.

High-flying Buckland responded just before the break with Lloyd Gardner lashing a shot into the corner of the net past Bees’ keeper Jason Hutchings.

Jared Lewington put the home side ahead to make it 2-1 after the interval, before midfielder Rich Groves produced a well-executed free-kick which bent into the top corner to wrap the game up.

Bridport’s afternoon was not helped in the second period when Ben Haines was sent off for a second yellow eight minutes from time – two of seven bookings for the Bees in the battle.

Speaking after the contest, Fricker told Echosport: “It’s the same old story against the top sides from our perspective I think.

“In the first 45 minutes we were excellent, we matched them and more so really.

“They were always going to create chances and, in the second half, they managed to maintain their level and we couldn’t quite live up to it.”

The Bees’ boss was still left to ponder what might have been on the afternoon and, on reflection, believed his side should have been more ruthless in front of goal.

He added: “We missed three one-on-ones basically (at 1-0 up), which would have given us a bit of a cushion and a bit of confidence against an excellent Buckland side.

“We can’t keep saying ‘we’ve matched a decent side again’. Sooner rather than later we need to start turning performances into points and taking chances.”

Bees: Hutchings, Regan, Hayter, Bailey (Condliffe 72), Martin, Peach, Latas (Paul 83), Rutter (Bulman 59), Butcher, Haines, Salter.