Football: Character lacking as Bridport Reserves are sunk

BRIDPORT Reserves’ manager Robin Townsend questioned his side’s character after they came undone against Parley Sports in the second half at St Mary’s Field.

After a solid start, the Bees had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Tristan Gale was put through one-on-one with the Sports’ goalkeeper but failed to hit the target.

But around the hour mark, Bridport conceded a free-kick and a dangerous ball into the area was not dealt with, and Parley were gifted a free header to give themselves the advantage.

Jack Scovell then won a penalty for the Bees as he was bundled over in the area, but Chris Herbst’s penalty was denied by a top-drawer save from the visiting keeper.

And with around 10 minutes left, Parley launched a ball which caught Bridport napping, and an attacker’s strike looped over Jamie Fry in the Bees’ goal into the net to put the result beyond doubt, much to the dismay of the Bees’ chief.

“I was very disappointed,” Townsend said.

“I felt we were the better side in the first half, they didn’t cause us many problems and I can’t remember them having a shot.

“If we scored early it would have settled us down and we could have gone on and taken the game to them. But the disappointing thing for me is we lack a bit of character and after a loss I feel it doesn’t hurt the players enough.

“There are one or two that have that desire to win but if you are carrying the others then you get found out. They shrug their shoulders and it doesn’t seem to mean that much to them, which I find a little bit hard to take.

“We had a great chance to score at the death but we could have been there all night trying to score, it just wasn’t our day.”

Townsend was particularly frustrated with the opening goal his side conceded.

He added: “We just stood there and watched them have a freeheader.

“The lad put his hand up after but he just stood there and watched their guy head the ball in the net, which I find infuriating.

“At this standard, you have to do better in situations like that. You tell the players and you think it sinks in and they take no notice, it has cost us at the end of the day.”

Townsend did however go on to praise the match officials, insisting their performance was “excellent” throughout the afternoon.

Bees: Fry, Herbst (Baggs 20), Day (Hayter 75), Walken, Hill, Stordy (Dunlop 70), Peart, Fleet, B Clarke, T Gale, Scovell