Russell's disbelief as three-goal lead slips

Bridport 3 Keynsham Town 4

BRIDPORT were left shell-shocked after an amazing fightback by Keynsham Town at St Mary's Field on Saturday.

The Bees somehow contrived to throw away a 3-0 half time lead, ending up pointless in their first home Screwfix Direct Premier Division match of the season.

Manager Bob Russell watched in disbelief as his side, who played some outstanding football in a totally dominant first half, capitulated after the break under the slightest of pressure.

And the Bees chief was at a loss to explain how his team managed to produce their best and worst football under his tenure in the space of 90 minutes.

He said: "In the first half, our attitude, commitment, decision making and performance were very good - then the second half was everything the first half wasn't.

"In many years as a player and a manager, I have never been involved in such a Jekyll and Hyde game.

"We discussed it in the changing rooms afterwards and nobody can give me the reason why.

"I feel that the players cheated, because they stopped taking responsibility. They all played within themselves and we were 11 individuals as opposed to a team."

Captain Gary McAuley marked his return to fitness with a stunning free kick inside two minutes.

The match-hungry skipper drew a foul 25 yards out and dispatched a powerful drive into the top right hand corner which was past the keeper before he could move.

Both Jon Ritchie and Lee Clark rattled the crossbar before Mark Radcliffe deservedly scored the home side's second on 23 minutes, nodding in a corner from close range.

Simon Austin then added the third on 35 minutes, receiving a throw in on the left before clipping a sweet lob beyond the outstretched hand of Amin Jones in the Keynsham goal.

But Bees fans were left wondering what had been put in the half time teas, as the hosts came out a shadow of their former selves.

The Canaries were handed a hint of hope seven minutes after the restart when a rare error from Pete Copeland presented Mark Hughes with a chance, and he steered the ball home from an angle 12 yards out.

That glimmer soon became reality with two goals in two minutes on the hour mark.

First, Jeff Coppe headed a corner goalwards which Radcliffe and 16-year-old stand in goalkeeper Simon Evans, borrowed from Weymouth, failed to keep out on the line.

Seconds later, Lee Zabek swerved a free kick just inside the post via the fingertips of Evans to draw the visitors level.

If the teenager should have done better with that goal, the fourth, and eventual winner, was a disaster for him on 71 minutes.

Another free kick in a similar position was this time curled over the wall by Carl Rutter. Evans attempted to push the ball over the bar, but only succeeded in palming it over the line.

Despite the mistake, Russell refused to lay any blame on the young gloveman.

He added: "I'd like to thank Steve Claridge, Dave Kiteley and Gary Borthwick for allowing us to have Simon Evans.

"I do not blame him one little bit for any of the goals. There were 10 players in front of him. The lad didn't have a great deal to do in the first half - and the second half should have been the same."

Match facts:

Bridport: Evans, Linney, Leach (O'Brien 89min), Copeland, Dennis, McAuley, Clark, Harmer (Taylor 59min), Austin, Ritchie (Gawen 89min).

Keynsham Town: Jones, Coppe, Morgan, Zabek, Pope, Howells, Rutter, Hughes, Maggs (Silverhampton 59min), Simpson (Rawlings 90min), Carter.

Cautions: Bridport - Dennis (foul 70min), Clark (foul 85min)

Bees man of the match: Simon Austin

Att: 98