BRIDPORT RESERVES 5

DORCHESTER SPORTS 1

BRIDPORT Reserves got their DPL Supplementary Cup Group B campaign off to a flying start with a 5-1 thrashing of Dorchester Sports at St Mary’s Field.

Midfielder Adam Steele opened the Bees’ account with a goal against his former club before Elliot Rossiter got a second within the first 20 minutes.

Sports came out with renewed intensity in the second half and immediately halved the deficit when Adam Anstey got up to head a Jamie Samways corner past keeper Harry Rupp.

Bridport then netted against the run of play when the speedy Rossiter latched onto a lofted through ball to score his second, before Callum Middleton bagged a carbon copy goal for 4-1.

Rossiter claimed his hat-trick and Bridport’s fifth as Sports chased the game and a miserable afternoon was completed for the visitors when Ryan Ross saw his penalty saved by Rupp after a handball.

Speaking to Echosport, delighted Bees’ boss Richard Middleton said: “The boys thoroughly deserved it. They went into the game with the right attitude and mentality.

“They gave as good as they got and it was good to watch.

“It was all done after the third, the boys battled hard.”

Sports’ boss Ashley James did not make excuses for the defeat against a side placed 15th when the Dorset Premier League was curtailed.

“Cup games are always going to be a little bit different, I don’t think you can look at any league table going into these games,” he said.

“Players are always going to play for teams where they didn’t last year.

“Both teams were different to what they were in the league before. They were better than us and deserved the win.

“They definitely came out quicker, there’s no doubt. Their two lads up top were really lively.

“We just couldn’t deal with the pace of them and they got in behind.

“We didn’t start playing until the 35th minute and we were 2-0 down by then. The first half hour we didn’t get to grips with it.

“You can’t give teams a 2-0 lead, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing.

“We had an uphill battle, we did get ourselves into it but it was just silly mistakes at the back which cost us dearly. In the end, they ran out comfortable winners.”

Sports host Balti Sports in their second Group B game at the Avenue Stadium tonight (7.45pm), while Bridport Reserves travelled to Westland yesterday.

Bees: Rupp, Owen, Middleton (Gear 65), Carlile, Adler, A Steele (James 64), Weir, Weedon, Rossiter, Sayers (Burwood 38), Ja Scadding.

Sports: Frost, J Steele, Anstey, Symes (Lewis 15), Harrington (D Peart 20), Watts, Samways (Ross 65), G Will, Leake (West 46), O Peart (Hickman 65), Godfrey.

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