BRADFORD TOWN 3

BRIDPORT 1

TWO second-half goals for Bradford Town’s Kane Simpson meant the Bees were left to travel home empty-handed from Trowbridge Road with a 3-1 defeat.

Simpson, who had a short spell at Paulton Rovers before re-joining the Bobcats, helped the home side pull away once again after a cracking strike from Ed Butcher got Adam Fricker’s men back in the contest in the second period.

The first goal for the hosts came with 17 minutes on the clock.

A slick corner routine from Bradford saw Dan Cottle lay the ball to Mark Wall, who made no mistake in smashing the ball past Bridport keeper Jason Hutchings for 1-0.

It stayed like that until 18 minutes from time when Butcher’s brilliance gave the Bees a chance of coming out of the contest with something to show for their efforts.

After seeing the ball cleared by the hosts, Butcher chased it down and created some space for himself to hammer the ball into the top corner.

Cottle then put the ball on a plate for Simpson to convert his first and put Bradford 2-1 up but the Bees will be wondering how they never levelled once more.

Another strike from Butcher was well saved by the home keeper and with Mark Salter following up, the Bradford gloveman pulled off another stop to somehow keep him at bay.

And it was that man Simpson who struck once more on 81 minutes to wrap the contest up for the hosts and end the Bees’ run of two straight wins in the process.

Speaking after the game, Bridport boss Adam Fricker told Echosport: “They started very strongly and it sort of shell-shocked our lads really. They were knocking it around quite freely and coming at us quite strongly.

“In the first 10 minutes, the lads were at sixes and sevens and just needed to keep a bit of composure.

“When we got it back to 1-1 we did think we could get away with it but they had a lot of chances and, to be fair, Jason Hutchings was excellent in goal for us and probably kept the score down really.”

He added: “I have played against them a few times and we have never had great results there.

“They are a good side and it’s a tough place to go. It was just one of those days really, it just didn’t happen on the day.”

Next up for the Bees is an away trip to Street on Boxing Day.

Bees: Hutchings, Regan, Hayter, Hill, Martin, Rutter (Condliffe 70), Peach, Symes (Haines 46), Latas, Butcher, Salter. Sub not used: Fricker