HIGHWORTH TOWN 3 BRIDPORT 0

BRIDPORT were knocked out of a cup competition for the second time this season by Wiltshire outfit Highworth on Saturday.

The Hellenic League side eliminated the Bees from the FA Cup in August and did the same to Trevor Senior’s men in the FA Vase at the weekend.

Three second-half goals gave the hosts their victory, although they only really sealed their passage to the third round with two late strikes.

After a goalless first half, TJ Bohane gave the home side the lead with a header midway through the second period – it was the prolific striker’s 23rd goal of the campaign.

Highworth made sure of the win in the last five minutes of the tie courtesy of goals from Brad Clark and Callum McGhee-Parsons.

Despite not being at their best, Bridport may well have gone through had it not been for a bit of bad luck.

At 1-0 down, Tom Richardson, twice, and Jamie Symes saw efforts hit the woodwork, while Warren Byerley had a big appeal for a penalty turned down.

Reflecting on the game, Bees’ boss Senior said: “The scoreline flattered Highworth a little bit, but they definitely deserved to win.

“I think we are two evenly-matched teams, though unfortunately for us they have knocked us out of two cups this season.

“We had a good run in the Vase, it was just disappointing the lads didn’t do themselves justice on Saturday.

“It wasn’t a pretty game of football and there were very few chances in the first half.

“Our aim was to press them high up the pitch, but apart from Dan Wise we didn’t really do that.

“Their lad had a free header for the first goal and we then hit the woodwork three times after that, and we should have had a penalty.

“We couldn’t do anything about their second goal, the lad hit a half-volley from the edge of the box that went in like a rocket.

“We were committing players forward at that point and they got another one a few minutes before the end.”

Ryan Dovell came off with a knee injury in the second half and he will be assessed before Bridport travel to Slimbridge in the league on Saturday.

Bees: Weeks, Filkins, Condliffe, Evans (Senior 60), Stewart, Hayter, J Symes, Wise, Byerley, Dovell (Richardson 65), Morley (A Symes 68)