Sherborne Town Res 2 Bridport Reserves 5

BRIDPORT manager Robin Townsend felt the gloss was taken off his side’s win after he was let down by late drop-outs on the morning of the game.

Townsend had been relying on some of the club’s third-team players to make the trip to Sherborne but when some of them cried off he had to frantically search for replacements.

Thankfully for the team, Chris Herbst and Connor Falvey answered the call and both came off the bench during the comfortable victory, which put them level on points with third-placed Hamworthy Recreation in the Magna Dorset Premier League.

“The win was pretty pleasing but the day didn’t start well,” said Townsend. “I was let down a little bit by a few of the lads in the third team which meant I had to hunt around for a decent team.

“That was a bit disappointing and took the gloss off what was a good win.

“We are meant to be a club. The reserves are there for the first team and the thirds for us, that’s what should really happen.

“In the end, Chris and Connor were good enough to sit on the bench for us and I’d like to thank them for helping us out.”

Bridport changed to a 4-4-2 system having thrashed Poole 7-0 last time out, and they started brightly with Tristan Gale opening the scoring on 15 minutes.

Gary Bulman got the second and Dominic McAllister bag-ged a third just after the half hour mark to virtually put the game to bed.

The hosts changed their formation in the second half and they pulled one back only for Gale to set-up a fourth for the Bees when a Sherborne defender turned the ball into his own net.

Gale capped a fine individual performance by making it 5-1 with a penalty and although the home side got a second goal it was just a consolation.

“We’re on a good run at the moment and the players are enjoying their football,” added Townsend. “Confidence is up and if we can keep that going then we’ll do well.”

Bridport go to Hamworthy United Reserves on Saturday.

Bees: Fry, Steele, Day, King, C Bulman, Gale, G Bulman, McAll-ister, Symes (Falvey 70), Scovell, Richardson (Herbst 60)