BRIDPORT RES 3 WIMBORNE TOWN RES 0

BRIDPORT Reserves advanced to the second round of the Dorset Senior Trophy in bizarre circumstances at St Mary’s Field.

With the game goalless at the interval, match official Philip Watson could not continue in the second period after suffering a hamstring injury, leaving the contest with no qualified referee.

Luckily, Bridport had a replacement in their party in the form of Shaun Annetts, who is a qualified official.

He stepped in and took the whistle for the second half as the Bees took it up a gear and goals from Dan Baggs, Gary Bulman and substitute Ashley Walken proved enough to book their place in the next round.

Bees’ boss Robin Townsend said: “All in all, I’m pleased that we are through.

“It was a very poor performance from us in the first half against a very good Wimborne side.

“We battled to restrict them and defended well but I thought they were excellent in the first half.

“I thought we were the better side in the second half. It was all about the result and it was good to get it with a break from the league.”

Commenting on the switch of officials, Townsend added: “The referee had to come off at half-time with a bad hamstring.

“We had to supply a qualified referee so we got Shaun Annetts, who is qualified, to take over.

“They were going to walk off at one point. We were 1-0 up at the time and I said to their manager that both sides weren’t helping Shaun.

“To be fair, Shaun did nothing wrong with the decisions and we are very grateful to him for doing it.”

The Bees will now host Piddletrenthide Spartans of the Dorset Senior League in round two on November 8.

Bees: Fry, Herbst, Baggs, Stordy, Steele, Fouracre, Fleet, Legg, Bulman, B Clarke, R Condliffe (Walken 70)