BRIDPORT suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season after losing 1-0 at 10-man Melksham Town in their Toolstation Western Premier Division clash.

Gary Higdon scored for Town straight from the kick-off and the hosts survived with 10 men for an hour after Mike Perrott was given his marching orders for two cautionable offences.

Bridport saw Mark Salter squander a difficult chance before Leighton Thomas skewed a shot wide when unmarked at the back post as the Bees struggled to break down a resilient Town defence.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, Bridport boss Adam Fricker felt Melksham were more “streetwise” than his side.

He said: “It was frustrating from our perspective, we didn’t play poorly. We just didn’t take advantage and they were a bit more streetwise.

“We just didn’t do the right things with the football to try and break them down. It was an opportunity for us to get a point if not three.

“We were on top when they went down to ten men, then they sat back and said ‘come and break us down’. We kept choosing the wrong option – it’s not like us.”

Commenting on the concession of Melksham’s goal, which came with the opening move of the game, Fricker believed his side was “caught flat-footed”.

He said: “They took the kick-off and played a long diagonal ball in behind Dane (James) at right-back.

“He got caught out of position and Leigh Bailey has slipped in the box which has allowed their striker to control it and volley it in.

“It was disappointing because we needed to be sharp from the first whistle.

“It took us 10 minutes to settle down. That was probably one of their only chances, but they did what they needed to when they went down to 10 men.”

And Fricker was left to rue two wasted openings for the Bees.

“We didn’t really trouble their keeper too much. He claimed a lot of the high balls we put in. Salts miscued one which was drilled into him.

“Ed (Butcher’s) cross evaded everyone and Leighton Thomas was unmarked at the back post and he sliced his shot. That was unlike him, he’s usually quite composed,” he said.

Bees: Hutchings, James, Bailey, Martin (Cornish 80), Sweet, Symes, Thomas, Richardson, Latas (Hebditch 65), Butcher, Salter.

n Portland United’s FA Vase first round match against Horndean has been postponed due to high winds, with the provisional date for fulfilment at Grove Corner set for tomorrow (7.45pm).

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