SWANAGE TOWN & H 6 BRIDPORT RESERVES 0

WHATEVER could have gone wrong for Bridport Reserves at Days Park on Saturday did.

The Bees had two men sent off and conceded six goals on an afternoon to forget for boss Shaun Annetts and his men.

Bridport’s day had also started badly with illness ruling out key defender Chris Herbst on the morning of the match.

And after Adam Stordy had received a first-half red card, things just went from bad to worse.

The resulting penalty was dispatched before keeper Josh Hadley slipped taking a goal-kick and the Swans doubled their lead.

Two became three following the interval and then Luke King was given his marching orders for dissent after giving away another spot-kick.

The Swans’ numerical advantage really told in the last quarter and they added goals five and six.

“It was one of those days and the sooner we can put it behind us the better,” said Annetts.

“I found out early on Saturday that Chris Herbst, one of our best players this season, was poorly.

“Our back four has been very good of late and he is a key part of that. We haven’t got that many defenders in the squad so I changed our formation to a 3-5-2.”

Annetts was pleased with the way his side started the Dorset Premier League contest, but then it all turned sour.

Giving his view on Stordy’s sending off, Annetts added: “It was a punt through the centre of our defence and Adam chased the ball with their attacker.

“They tangled just outside the box and both went down. The referee didn’t give anything but the linesman was waving his flag.

“The referee went across to speak to him and then pointed to the spot and also sent off Adam. I think it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

The Bees changed to a 4-4-1 and might have equalised had Robin Jones done better when found in space. But Hadley’s slip proved costly and the hosts ran away with it in the second half.

Commenting on King’s red card, his manager said: “The ball was played down our right and Luke tried to shield it from their player.

“Luke made a challenge that he maybe shouldn’t have and brought their man down for a penalty. He then said something he shouldn’t have, but it was more out of frustration rather than directed at the referee.

“But the referee felt it was aimed at him and he sent off Luke.”

Annetts added: “The nine lads that played the last 30 minutes deserved a pat on the back.”

Bees: Hadley, Day (Cummings 65), Stordy, King, Jones, S Gale, Fleet, Blair, Gape, Baker, Radivojsa (Scovell 70)