BRIDPORT 1

Bailey 56

HENGROVE ATHLETIC 2

L Crewe 46, Hickery 90

BRIDPORT were stunned by a late Rhys Hickery goal as Hengrove Athletic pinched a 2-1 win at St Mary’s Field in their Toolstation Western League Premier Division battle. 

After a goalless first half, Luke Crewe converted a penalty for Athletic before the Bees’ Leigh Bailey equalised 10 minutes later after a goalmouth scramble resulting from a partially-cleared Andy Martin corner. 

Bridport pressure then ensued but with the West Dorset side failing to nudge ahead, they were undone by a late counter-attack after pushing men forward, Hickery doing the damage to inflict Bridport’s 12th loss of the season. 

Speaking to Echosport, an irate Bees’ boss Adam Fricker felt that referee Richard Lawrence had a “personal vendetta” against his side. 

He said: “We should have had three stonewall penalties which weren’t given. It’s a disgrace, to be fair. Even the linesman has turned round and said there were three stonewall penalties and they should have had two sent off.

“It’s a real joke. It happened at Chard and he seems to have a personal vendetta against us.”

Fricker also lamented a “poor” first-half in which Bridport “dropped” to Hengrove’s level.

He said: “It was disappointing from our part, we were poor for 45 minutes. They’ve come off the back of playing Tuesday and Thursday and they had their legs in them. 

“Every opportunity they had they slowed things down. 

“The frustrating thing is we dropped down to that level and didn’t dictate the pace of the game. We almost went through the motions. 

“We set the lads a target to finish in the top six and myself and Paddy (Behan, assistant-manager) certainly won’t settle for allowing the season to fizzle out.”

Bees: Hutchings, Condliffe (Peach 82), Bailey, Rutter, Martin, Symes, Thomas, Hebditch (Cornish 70), Andrews, Latas, Richardson (Butcher 55). Sub not used: Hill

Referee: Richard Lawrence

Attendance: 100