MELKSHAM TOWN 3 BRIDPORT 0

BRIDPORT’S search for an elusive second win in 2015 continues after they were eventually undone at league leaders Melksham Town.

Boss Trevor Senior saw his side put up a good fight, and they had chances to open the scoring against table-topping Town, but three second-half goals from the hosts saw them run out comfortable winners.

The Bees more than held their own and fashioned some good opportunities during the opening period.

Shane Evans blazed over from the edge of box and Tom Richardson curled an attempt just past the top corner.

“We were more than a match for them in the first half,” Senior told Echosport.

“They had two or three half-chances from corners in the first half but overall I felt we defended really well.

“If anything we shaded the half, we frustrated them, and I just said that if we got our chance we needed to take them.”

Both Richardson and Evans went close once again after the break, but after a strong 10-minute spell the Bees were punished, as the home side scrambled the ball over the line from a corner.

Bridport then failed to regroup and minutes later gifted Melksham a free header to make it 2-0.

“That knocked the stuffing out of us really because we were really on top,” Senior added.

In a bid to pull one back, Matt Condliffe managed to break clear down the left for the Bees.

He cut inside and struck a fierce effort which rattled the crossbar, but the hosts soon added a third from a corner and then saw the game out comfortably.

Senior said: “It was disappointing in the end, we lost 3-0 but it wasn’t as bad as it sounds.

“It flattered Melksham a bit but if they are going to win the league, from their point of view, they didn’t play all that well and still won 3-0 so it’s a good sign for them.

“You just can’t afford to give free headers.

“We switched off for two or three moments in the game and two of those they scored from.

"We are getting punished for that at the moment.”

The result means Bridport have gone eight games in total without recording a victory, their last win coming against Sherborne Town on January 10.

Bridport now have three home games in a row, starting with the visit of Slimbridge to west Dorset on Saturday.

They then entertain Bradford Town a fortnight later before locking horns with rock bottom Bishop Sutton seven days after that.

Sutton, who looked doomed to go down, lost 5-0 to Sherborne on Saturday.

Bees: Weeks, Condliffe, Morley (Byerley 65), Hill (Stewart 65), Clarke, Ry Hayter, Filkins, J Symes (Wise 65), Evans, Richardson, A Symes