BRIDPORT 3

Salter 37, Hebditch 50, Thomas 68

CADBURY HEATH 0

BRIDPORT picked up their first Toolstation Western League Premier Division win of 2018 with a 3-0 triumph over Cadbury Heath at St Mary’s Field. 

Goals from Mark Salter, Richard Hebditch and Leighton Thomas helped the Bees secure a win that sees them rise one place to 11th. 

The success was Bridport’s third over Heath this season after 4-1 and 3-2 wins in the league and FA Cup.

Speaking to Echosport after the victory, boss Adam Fricker was pleased to earn three points on a testing playing surface. 

He said: “It was definitely playable but it was heavy, with quite a few divots. It made it difficult but to be fair to the lads, to play the football they played on it was superb.

“They scored three cracking goals and it was a really good team performance.”

Talking through the goals, Fricker praised the team effort for the first two.

He said: “We moved the ball from left to right. Andy Martin played a great ball over the top to Oscar Latas, who whipped it in and Mark was there to nod it back across goal - a really good team move.

“The second, Lee Sweet drove forward from left-back and knocked a ball into Salts who flicked it on to Richard, who had his back to goal, but swivelled and volleyed it in the corner from 12 yards - again, a great team move. 

“Then Leighton scored direct from a corner.”

Fricker then went on to highlight the influence of Thomas, who has been a key player for the Bees in recent weeks. 

He said: “He pulled off the keeper and powered a header in, that’s three headers in his last four.

“We put him on the keeper for corners and he’s probably got four or five goals from it. 

“He really came of age and worked hard and did the nitty gritty stuff that flair players don’t like doing. 

“He did his job and it was good he could cap his performance off with a goal.”

Bridport have no fixture tomorrow due to Melksham Town’s progress in the FA Vase, but the Bees return to league action on Wednesday when they host Bridgwater Town (7.45pm). 

Bees: Hutchings, Martin, Condliffe (Hill 80), Rutter, McGrath, Sweet (Peach 70), Latas, Andrews, Thomas, Salter, Hebditch (Cornish 75). Subs not used: Richardson, Smith