BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker conceded the Bees “weren’t at the races” during their 2-1 FA Vase defeat to Wincanton Town at St Mary’s Field.

All the goals were scored in an eventful first half as Ed Butcher gave Bridport the lead before strikes from Tom Morris and ex-Bee Dan Wise handed the Wasps victory against a team ranked one league above them.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, Fricker felt his side, who only named 14 players in their matchday squad, looked “leggy and very lethargic” throughout the contest.

He said: “We weren’t at the races by any stretch of the imagination. They had a couple of chances and took them. We looked very leggy and very lethargic. I’m very disappointed.

“The only positive we can take is that everyone came out unscathed.”

Running through his assessment of the game Fricker believed Wincanton had a gameplan that “worked for them”.

He said: “Ed Butcher scored our goal from a free-kick, he whipped it in. Their keeper made a right hash of it and literally chucked it in the back of the net.

“Then they broke down the left, put in a cross and their lad headed it in at the back post. They ran in midfield and struck one from 20 yards to make it 2-1 at half-time.

“If we had stepped out and closed the space down it would have been different, but we allowed them to run at us,” he added.

“Then they came out in the second half and made it difficult to break them down. We didn’t have the ideas to do that and fair play to Wincanton.

“They got the result and they did what they wanted to do. I think we dominated it but in the final third we didn’t create much and what we did create we didn’t take.

“They had a gameplan and it worked for them. I don’t want to do them a disservice but I think it’s a case of us not being at the races,” he said.

But there was good news for Bridport before kick-off as Fricker confirmed the signing of left-back Lee Sweet from Street.

And Fricker revealed his side will get the whole week off before their FA Cup second round qualifying tie at home to Cadbury Heath on Saturday.

“With Saturday in mind we’re going to give the lads a few days off. We’ve played non-stop since the season started. We’re going to have them concentrated on resting up.

“A few of the lads are quite tired and a few have been carrying injuries as well,” he said.

Bees: Hutchings, Hill (Handyside 70), Vere, Hayter, Condliffe (Hannam 80), Symes, Thomas, Richardson, Butcher, Andrews, Hebditch. Sub not used: Fricker