BRIDPORT RESERVES 2 BLANDFORD UNITED 0

BRIDPORT clinched successive wins for the first time this season with goals either side of the break from Jack Scovell and Sam Day.

But it was the visitors, and keeper Alex Dickinson, who came in for the most praise from Bees’ boss Robin Townsend following the final whistle.

Blandford were only able to field 10 men from the outset and with no substitutes they had to battle even harder than usual to keep the score down.

In the end, a good finish from Scovell on 33 minutes and Day’s close-range strike just after the interval gave the hosts the three points.

“They were struggling for players beforehand but I didn’t want our players going out there with the attitude that it would be easy,” said Townsend.

“I was worried our players might have been a bit complacent due to the situation but that didn’t happen.

“We knocked the ball around well but couldn’t put it in the net, and I’ve never seen 10 players battle as hard as they did.

“The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the game because we had multiple chances in the first half and only took one of them.

“We got a second but their keeper made about 10 really good saves throughout the match.”

Townsend added: “All in all, I’m delighted with the three points, though I take my hat off to them.

“They battled for each other and didn’t stop running, their keeper was absolutely fantastic and they’ll have a good side when they get a full one on the pitch.”

Bridport now sit ninth out of the 18 teams in the Dorset Premier League with nine points from six fixtures.

Bees: J Fry, Porteous, Evans, Day (King 65), Baggs, Herbst, H Fleet, Bulman, Legg (McClements 60), Scovell, B Clarke