BRIDPORT RESERVES 1 STURMINSTER MARSHALL 4

ROBIN Townsend couldn’t single out any of his players for praise after the Bees slipped to a 4-1 reverse at home to Sturminster Marshall.

Bridport took the lead through Rhys Hayter and had chances to extend their advantage before Stur equalised with five minutes of the first half left.

The visitors scored three more in the second period, two on the break as Bridport tried to get something from the game, to seal their fourth Dorset Premier League victory of the season.

“We had one of those bad days which we want to forget and move on from,” said Bees’ boss Townsend.

“We had a pretty strong squad but for some reason we didn’t play as a team.

“Take nothing away from them, they probably deserved the win, but the result was a bit harsh.

“The lads had chances to put the game out of Sturminster’s reach after Rhys Hayter scored, but our decision-making when we had the ball was poor.

“They put us under a bit of pressure and got back into the game before half-time.

“We still had chances to kill the game off in the second half before a long clearance came off Dan Baggs’ head and they went through to make it 2-1.

“We were pushing for an equaliser then and they broke twice to score two more.”

Commenting further on where he felt it went wrong for his side, he added: “We didn’t defend very well and didn’t take our chances.

“I couldn’t single out anybody who had a good game.

“It’s hard to put your finger on it – I’d like to put it down to just a bad day at the office.”

Townsend is set to be missing several players, including Dan Peart, Alan Hill and Sam Day, for his team’s game at Shaftesbury Town on Saturday.

Bees: A Clarke, Hill, Baggs, Day, Steele, Hayter (Herbst 60), Fleet, Peart, Gale (McAllister 60), Bulman (Scovell 60), B Clarke