BRIDPORT failed to take their opportunities to topple new league leaders Bristol Manor Farm, as they were sunk by two second-half goals at the Creek.

With regular frontman Warren Byerley unavailable, manager Trevor Senior fielded Shane Evans up front and he proved effective, with a couple of chances falling his way in the opening half.

The Bees’ boss told Echosport: “We played some decent football in the first half with good crisp passing on a good surface.

“I asked the lads to carry on in the way we played last week, we trained really well in the week and in the first half we bossed the game.”

But in failing to capitalise on their opportunities, the Bees fell behind 10 minutes after the interval.

Just 10 seconds after having a corner of their own, Bridport’s Ryan Hayter made a rash challenge in the area and gifted the Farm a penalty, which they made no mistake with to put themselves in the ascendancy.

Adam Symes then caught his man as the home side earned their second spot-kick, but on this occasion, Senior’s men emerged unscathed when goalkeeper Ashley Weeks made a strong save to keep the score at 1-0.

Bridport continued to amass their fair share of possession in search of an equaliser but the hammer blow was dealt when Weeks could do nothing to prevent a shot from 25 yards cannoning off a post and into the net three minutes from time.

Senior added: “The result probably flattered them a little bit and to be fair to their manager, he shook my hand at the end of the game and said ‘we robbed you’.

“If we had scored in the first half they would have had to come at us.”

Bees: Weeks, A Symes, Morley, Clarke (Stewart 68), C Senior, Ry Hayter, J Filkins (Condliffe 68), Wise, Richardson, Evans, J Symes.

Attendance: 68