BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker was “delighted” after the Bees progressed to the second qualifying round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Barnstaple Town at St Mary’s Field.

Fricker felt his side “dominated from start to finish” against Barum, who ply their trade one rung above Bridport in the Southern League West.

A goal from midfielder Tom Richardson in the 24th minute proved enough for the hosts, but Fricker told Echosport it could have been “four or five nil”.

He said: “I don’t think it would have been a disgrace if we won four or five nil. We were delighted and dominated from start to finish.

“I said to the boys before the game there was no pressure. The expectation was on Barnstaple to put in a performance. All of them were up for it from the first minute and knew what they had to do.”

Commenting on the goal and the chances Bridport created, Fricker was anxious that his side “couldn’t put the game to bed”.

He said: “It fell to Braeden Symes who played it down the side to Tom, who opened himself up and stuck it in the bottom corner.

“We had Leighton Thomas in the first half, he did some great work and pulled it back to Ed Butcher, eight yards out. He decided to have a touch which gave the keeper the opportunity to smother it.

“Mark Salter had a great opportunity from a ball over the top of the defence, he was one-on-one with the keeper and put it narrowly wide.

“We had a header from Cameron Vere that went over the bar. We couldn’t put the game to bed and I thought it would come back to bite us, but thankfully it didn’t.”

But Fricker labelled Richardson’s display as “outstanding” and said the goalscorer gave his team “heart and desire” throughout.

“Tom was outstanding for us. He gave us that heart and desire. For him to pop up with the winning goal is fantastic. He kept us going from the first to the last minute,” he said.

And the Bees’ boss has his sights set on more higher-league opposition in the next round, citing Weymouth as his top pick.

Fricker said: “You want to play the highest team possible. From a club perspective Weymouth would be fantastic.

“It’s nice to give something back to the club. Last year it was a tough season and they were supportive. Giving that back to them is a big thank you to be honest.”

Bees: Hutchings, Andrews, Vere, Hayter, Martin, Thomas (Condliffe 75), Richardson, Symes, Butcher (Cornish 85), Hebditch (Peach 90), Salter. Subs not used: Butler, Hannam, Smith