HAMWORTHY UNITED RES 1 BRIDPORT RES 6

BRIDPORT Reserves ended their season on a high as they hit whipping boys Hamworthy United Reserves for six at the County Ground.

The Bees suffered a 3-2 defeat to Weymouth Reserves on Saturday, but responded brilliantly thanks to a Ben Clarke hat-trick along with strikes from Gary Bulman, Simon Gale and substitute Rob Jones to secure an emphatic triumph.

Having gone into the break against the Hammers with the score deadlocked at 1-1, manager Robin Townsend said: “I thought it was going to be one of those frustrating nights again, we got caught with their goal from the same ball we have been caught out, by all season.”

But Bridport were determined not to let their campaign fizzle out and were totally in control of proceedings after the interval.

Townsend added: “We had chance after chance in the second-half and if it had ended up as many as 12 they couldn’t have really had any complaints.”

Clarke bagged all of his side’s first three goals in a clinical display which Townsend was pleased with, and the manager reflected on their eighth-place showing in the league this term.

He claimed: “We have had a very indifferent season and consistency is something we have fallen away from.

“We have had games in the season that we should have won and that’s why we are where we are in the league.”

Looking forward to next term, he added: “Next year I am looking to brighten it up and I will be looking for some of the under--17 lads to step up into the reserves.

“I will have a word with Trevor (Senior) and hopefully we can keep producing players to come through for the first team.”

Bees: B Fleet, King, Fry, Annetts, Steele, T Gale (Jones 50), Cummings, Bulman, Rh Hayter, Scovell (S Gale 55), Clarke (M Lock 85)

* On behalf of the club, Town-send took the opportunity to thank Gary Edwardes Plumb-ing & Heating for sponsoring the Bees’ reserves kit, Bridport Plumbing Supplies for sponsoring the warm-up kit, Liz Wright for looking after the kit all season, Dave Rendall for driving the team minibus and also gave a special thank you to Shaun Annetts and Mark Lock for all of their help throughout the campaign.