BRIDPORT 0

WELLINGTON 2

Jake Quick 22, 83

TWO goals for debutant Wellington midfielder Jake Quick condemned Bridport to a disappointing 2-0 loss against their fellow strugglers in new boss John Godbold’s first game.

Without the attacking thrust of experienced Dec Cornish and Lewis Clarke – who left for Sherborne and Portland United respectively – Bridport failed to cause problems up front.

Their brightest spell came in the first half when Jake Owen shot tamely at Tangerines’ keeper Tom Welch, before Will Gape blasted over the bar.

Wellington took the lead in the 22nd minute when Quick skipped past a missed tackle from new signing Billy Evans before slotting past Jordon Scadding in the Bees’ goal.

Bridport responded as another fresh face, Henry Lawrence-Napier, headed over before half-time.

Bizarrely, Godbold opted to replace the uninjured Scadding at half-time with Weymouth loanee keeper Harrison Bruton, with Riley Weedon also coming on for Liam Sayers.

Bridport’s third sub – Riley Greenwood-Neate – fired wide in the 55th minute but Bruton was called upon to deny both Quick and Patrick O’Halloran with a smart double save on the hour.

However, Quick doubled his tally after pouncing on a rebound and hit the post with an 88th-minute penalty as the chance for his hat-trick went begging.

Bridport’s ninth loss in 10 Toolstation Western League Premier Division games kept the Bees in 20th, with Wellington nine points and four places above them.

Post-match, Godbold said: “It was great just to play, to finally see the lads in a game and we learnt loads.

“They never, ever gave up the chase. I thought we did well in terms of what we were trying to do in the first 20 minutes in terms of shape.

“(Wellington) like to play the ball out from the back, which suited us.

“Then there was a little period where – that pressing we want to do – gaps started to get bigger.

“That’s when they started to get on the ball and be a lot more comfortable. They created a lot of chances.

“We had a very good period in the 20 minutes after half-time when it was still 1-0.

“We had a couple of half-opportunities. If we’d have put them away obviously it’s a very different game.”

Bees: Jo Scadding (Bruton 46), Evans, Calverley, Gape, King, Butcher, Owen (Greenwood-Neate 53), Napier, Sayers (Weedon 46), Wood, Cox. Sub not used: Leader

Attendance: 137