WILLAND ROVERS 4

Veal 20, 30, Williams 68, Mortimore 85

BRIDPORT 2

Richardson 25, Salter 65 pen

BRIDPORT’S tricky Christmas period began with a 4-2 loss at high-flying Willand Rovers in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

Second-placed Willand twice went ahead in the first-half, Craig Veal scoring either side of Tom Richardson’s equaliser for the Bees.

After Bridport levelled for a second time through Mark Salter’s penalty, Rovers took just three minutes to regain a lead they never relinquished through Fletcher Williams, before Luke Mortimore added a fourth five minutes from time.

Speaking to the Bridport News after the game, Bees’ boss Adam Fricker rued his side’s inability to “kill the game” after their second equaliser.

He said: “The scoreline probably doesn’t tell the true reflection. They are a good side so it was always going to be difficult.

“It was frustrating really, we got ourselves back into it, but at 2-2 we didn’t kill the game.

“We probably deserved more, and we could have had three or four in the first-half but we were guilty of not taking our chances.

“After they went 3-2 up they professionally managed the game more than us.”

Talking through the goals, Fricker outlined Richardson as key in both of the Bees’ strikes.

“Tom scored the first. Leighton Thomas went down the right-hand side and pulled it back for Leigh Bailey who whipped it in with his left foot. Tom got across his man and put it in the bottom corner.

“For the second, again it was great work from Tom in the centre of midfield with quick feet. He put about three players on the floor and put in a great ball for Richard Hebditch who was brought down by the keeper, then Salts finished the penalty.

“To be fair in the first-half their two goals we could have done better. Second-half they worked two really good goals, both from crosses, one from the right, one from the left.

“They really are an excellent football team, they don’t have many weaknesses. While we don’t like losing, when you’ve been involved in a good football match and lost to a decent team it makes it a bit easier,” he said.

Bridport, who drop one place to ninth, next face leaders Street, who beat Bridgwater Town 3-2, on Boxing Day at St Mary’s Field (1pm).

Fricker said: “Another tough game, it is what it is. We have to make sure that we do the right things to prepare ourselves for Street, so we’ll see what happens.”

Bees: Hutchings, Bailey, Rutter (Hill 90), Martin, Sweet, Vance (Latas 70), Symes, Thomas, Richardson (Cornish 80), Hebditch, Salter. Subs not used: Smith, Peach

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