MERLEY COBHAM SPORTS 6

BRIDPORT RESERVES 2

BRIDPORT Reserves went down to a disappointing 6-2 defeat as the attacking prowess of Merley Cobham Sports proved too much in their Dorset Premier League encounter.

Nathan Saxby scored four times, adding to strikes from Matt Groves and Lee Wilkins as Sports went 6-0 up.

However, a late rally from the Bees added respectability to the scoreline with two consolatory goals.

Sub Riley Weedon threaded a lovely ball into the path of Josh Hull who slid in a lovely right-wing ball for centre-back Ryan Gall to knock home at the back post.

Hull then bagged a goal through a deflected strike as the Bees showed fight in the closing stages.

Reserves’ boss Shaun Annetts said: “(Merley) took their foot off the pedal and we managed to get two good goals from decent football, but it was far, far, far too late.

“You can’t start playing against a side like Merley after 80 minutes, which is what happened.

“We ended up getting two consolation goals but overall we were beaten significantly.

“6-2 flatters them, 4-2 wouldn’t do but fair play to them. We had no answer.

“Fair play to Merley, they will finish in the top two because they are a good side and score goals for fun. They did give us a hard time.”

Bees: Jo Scadding, Ja Scadding, Strelley (Weedon 60), Gall, Legg, Leader, B Scadding, C Middleton (Mamanta 65), Hull, Jones, Elkahla (Hunter 65). Sub not used: R Middleton.