BRIDPORT 0

SHEPTON MALLET 6

BRIDPORT were sent to a 6-0 loss as Shepton Mallet took a dominant victory in their Toolstation Western League Premier Division contest at St Mary’s Field.

It means the managerless Bees, who played their first game for three weeks, have now been defeated 25 times in 26 league games and remain 14 points from safety with 10 games to go.

While Bridport have struggled results-wise, their first-half performances have largely been competitive before a trend of falling away in the second 45.

Here, Mallet broke the Bees’ resistance in the opening portion of the match, going 3-0 up.

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Joe Morgan tapped home from six yards in the eighth minute before Nick Hewlett headed Shepton’s second when unmarked.

And the Somerset side were 3-0 ahead in 16 minutes when Nathan Legge slalomed past a trio of Bridport defenders before rifling in from 18 yards.

Bridport lacked creativity up front but did improve in the second half, forcing keeper Tom Easterbrook into action twice.

However, that was not before Shepton notched a fourth as Morgan sped through the middle before converting past Taylor.

Morgan recorded his hat-trick with a carbon copy goal on 55 minutes and the visitors hit the bar as Bridport’s defence was breached again.

Tony Carlile did at least work Easterbrook with the Bees’ best chance on 77 minutes but there was instant retaliation from Mallet barely 60 seconds later as Jacob Sloggett scored from an acute angle to complete the rout.

Speaking post-match, Bridport caretaker boss Shaun Annetts said: “We looked a little rusty.

“We’re not at Shepton’s level. Is it a massive surprise? Probably not. At the same time, we create our own problems, we’ve done it all season.

“We’re just doing simple things wrong, making the wrong decisions or not being switched on in certain circumstances.

“Obviously it’s a disappointing scoreline but there were some flashes of decent football and we made the keeper make two or three saves during the 90 minutes, which believe you me in some games this season we’ve not even achieved that.

“So, there were little positives, but at the same time we’re guilty of making mistakes, mainly giving the ball away so cheaply in their third, we’re slow to get back into a defensive shape and we get punished.

“That happened four times (against Shepton) and there’s only so many times I can speak to the players.

“That said, every single one of the 14 lads that were involved didn’t let me or themselves down. They worked hard for the time that they were on the field.

“I can’t ask any more than that. We have to dust ourselves down, prepare and go again next week at Brislington.”

Bees: Taylor, Calverley, Greenwood-Neate, Baggs (Mamanta 70), Hawker, Owen, A Steele, Boulton, Carlile (Arnold 80), Osei-Kumi (Burwood 60), Hill.

Attendance: 101