BRIDPORT hit back to earn a 3-3 draw at Cribbs FC in their action-packed Toolstation Western Premier Division encounter.

Adam Fricker’s men opened a 2-0 half-time lead via Mark Salter and Lee Sweet goals.

But they were rapidly overhauled by Cribbs, who netted three goals in four minutes to move 3-2 ahead.

The Bees took a share of the points courtesy of Tom Richardson and might have taken all three had Salter not hit the woodwork.

Speaking to Echosport, Fricker rued a “sloppy” five-minute spell immediately after half-time.

He said: “It was just very sloppy for five minutes. Defensively we didn’t deal with situations and we didn’t track our runners in midfield. We got caught cold.

“Credit to the lads because they could have just chucked the towel in and they didn’t.

“Cribbs were delighted to get a point in the end. Salts hit the post and Leighton had a few chances. Before the game we would probably have taken a point because it’s a tough place to go.”

Fricker was pleased with his side’s first-half showing, which saw full-back Sweet notch his maiden goal for the club.

“It was quite an open game. Salts’ goal came from a break down the left-hand side and Ed whipped a cracking cross in that the keeper could only get a hand to and Salts followed up.

“Then they failed to clear a corner kick and it was a bit of a scramble in the box. The keeper pulled off a couple of saves and Lee knocked it in from about eight yards out,” he said.

Fricker felt the Bees contributed to Cribbs’ second-half blitz, claiming his team was guilty of “not doing the basics”.

He said: “A ball was put over the top and Dane James got caught in two minds. Their lad had a clear run through on goal. Their tails were up from there.

“They worked it down our right for their second goal and it looped over our keeper. James (Smith) had no chance.

“The third was a whipped-in cross in our box and their lad had a tap-in. Everything that they created came from our own sloppy mistakes or poor passing, not doing the basics.”

The Bees’ boss was satisfied with a point, but admitted he was frustrated after opening a two-goal cushion.

“They showed great character to get back in it with a cracking strike from Tom. I turned round and said it was going to be 8-7!

“It’s frustrating given the position we were in at half-time, but at least we came away with a point,” he said.

The draw keeps Bridport in 12th place in the league, having amassed 14 points from their eight games.

Bees: Smith, James, Bailey, Martin, Sweet, Richardson, Thomas, Latas, Hebditch (Cornish 80), Butcher, Salter. Subs not used: Hayter, Mansley