BRIDPORT 0 WILLAND ROVERS 2

TEENAGE keeper Josh Hadley gave a man-of-the-match performance but ultimately ended up on the losing side as Bridport were beaten at home by Willand Rovers.

Hadley, who has come into the side for the last few games due to Ashley Weeks’ back injury, made several impressive saves throughout the St Mary’s Field clash.

However, his team-mates were unable to put the ball in at the other end of the pitch and Rovers’ two first-half strikes proved enough to clinch the three points.

Rovers took the lead on 35 minutes but only at the third attempt after Hadley had made an excellent double save in the same passage of play.

Hadley had no chance with the visitors’ second goal as a corner to the near post was flicked in from close range.

Bridport did have chances in the first period with Darren Watts and Warren Byerley testing the Rovers gloveman.

The Bees changed their shape slightly after the break and had more of the game as a result.

Jamie Beasley screwed an effort just wide from the edge of the box and Sean Stewart had a goal-bound shot deflected for a corner.

Rovers always looked dangerous on the break but never really tested Hadley like they had in the first half.

“We were disappointing in the first half,” said Bridport boss Trevor Senior. “They looked a lot sharper and caused us a few problems.

“If it hadn’t been for Josh Hadley then it could have been more than 2-0 at half-time.

“He made three or four really good saves and couldn’t do anything about the goals.”

Senior added: “At the moment we are playing well in halves, but we need to do it for the whole 90 minutes.

“We are just lacking that little bit of creativity which means we aren’t taking our chances.

“We had plenty of possession against Willand but couldn’t make that count in front of goal.

“We started off the game with three in midfield before going to four, and that seemed to work a lot better.

“Jamie Beasley is an out and out winger and he got into it more in the second half.”

The win took Willand up to eighth in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division, while the Bees stay 13th, although they have played the least games out of all the sides.

And they won’t have long to dwell on Tuesday night’s defeat.

They are back in action tomorrow night when they travel to Shepton Mallet for a first round tie in the Les Phillips Cup.

Bees: Hadley, Evans, Clarke, S Buckler (Hill 65), M Buckler (Richardson 65), Hayter, Stewart, Watts, Salter, Byerley (Blair 78), Beasley