CADBURY HEATH 3 BRIDPORT 0

BRIDPORT fell to a seventh straight defeat as they lost 3-0 in a first-half horror show against Cadbury Heath.

The visitors started brightly in tricky conditions but were undone when a 25-yard effort from Cadbury Heath hit a bobble and bounced over keeper Jason Hutchings.

That goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of an already fragile Bees and the hosts took advantage as they converted from a corner, and then scored once again before half-time to end the game as a contest.

Bridport appeared to have been buoyed over the interval and put in an impressive second-half display, but despite creating several chances they could not convert.

The usually lethal Mark Salter missed numerous opportunities, most notably when he hit the post before James Regan put his effort over the bar.

Speaking after the game, Bridport boss Adam Fricker said the squad had to hear some home truths to focus the team at half-time.

He said: “The lads were feeling a bit sorry for themselves. My assistant and I sat down with them and he was a bit more forthright with what he was saying to them, and, to be fair, the lads were excellent in the second half.

“The opposition manager said he thought we were excellent second half, but when it’s 3-0 at half-time the game is already over.

“We’re just in a bit of a rut and we need that rub of the green.”

With confidence being a key issue in Fricker’s squad, the manager said he is going to have to take a different approach to get his side playing.

He added: “We just need to look at the individuals, everybody is different and some players will react better to a telling-off while others need an arm round them. We try to keep the mood as light as we can but sometimes you have to say a few choice words.

“We have games in hand but we have been dragged into a relegation fight so we do need to address it quickly.”

“From our perspective we just need to get some bodies back because after having a month off we’ve played three games in seven days, and only used 12 players and that certainly does take its toll.

“All we can keep doing is to try instil confidence in the lads but there isn’t a lot we can do for them other than make sure they know what’s being asked of them.

“The lads don’t give in, they’ll fight to the bitter end, which is great because it shows they have character. But we can’t wait until we’re two or three nil down, they need to do it from the first whistle.”

Bees: Hutchings, Regan, Haines (Andrews), Martin, Hayter, Hill, Peach, Condliffe, Rutter, Latas, Salter. Subs not used: Hannam, Symes