BRIDPORT 1

Thomas 28

CLEVEDON TOWN 4

Camper 15, Vowles 55, 69, Ferris 79

BRIDPORT slipped to a 4-1 defeat as high-flying Clevedon Town took all three points from their Toolstation Western League Premier Division meeting at a rainy and windswept St Mary’s Field.

In the third meeting between the sides in the space of 39 days, Clevedon once more came out on top.

Morgan Williams’ broken leg caused an abandonment in the first clash when it was goalless with the Seasiders later winning 4-0 in the re-arranged fixture.

Town began where they left off from that encounter, Syd Camper punishing the Bees’ Sam Clark for two poor misses by opening the scoring with a shot across Jason Hutchings.

Leighton Thomas finished off an enterprising run to equalise on 28 minutes but the winger’s strike was as good as it got for an unusually below-par Bridport side.

The hosts will point to two contentious decisions for the Seasiders’ next two goals, the referee taking an age to award a free-kick for the second.

Despite the nearside linesman not flagging for a supposed foul by Lee Sweet, the referee gave the free-kick from which Lucas Vowles headed home.

Vowles was again at the centre of the controversy when he netted 14 minutes later from a seemingly offside position to put Clevedon 3-1 up.

In response, Mark Salter clattered a header against the bar but the visitors’ Archie Ferris went one better, tucking home past Hutchings to complete the scoring in the 79th minute.

Bees’ boss Adam Fricker labelled the contest as an “off day” for his charges.

He said: “They’re a dangerous side, a young side, and we said before the game they’re a side that plays very much on the front foot.

“Second half we made it very easy for them because we didn’t compete. First half we played some really good stuff in difficult conditions and they went ahead against the run of play but we got back into it.

“At half-time, I was confident going in at 1-1. Second-half a couple of decisions for their goals probably went against us, but take nothing away from Clevedon because we didn’t deserve anything.”

He added: “Second half we just weren’t at it, we didn’t have that fight about us and they did what we know they can do.

“Whether it was a bit of tiredness on a heavy pitch, I don’t know. If it happens again in the next game then you start to become a little concerned.

“But I don’t think it will, I think it was just a bit of an off day.”

Bridport, who occupy 13th, continue their league campaign on Saturday away at 19th-placed side Hengrove Athletic (3pm) having already beaten Athletic 3-1 at home this season.

Bees: Hutchings, Martin, Sweet, Andrews, Condliffe, McGrath, Peach, Thomas (Morris 87), Salter, Clark (Wood 62), Williams (Weedon 85)