Bridport 1 Fleet Town 2

DESPITE putting in a much improved performance, Bridport were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fleet Town, conceding twice in added time at the end of the game.

In the opening exchanges, despite The Bees having a fifth minute penalty shout declined it was Fleet in the form of James Beauchamp and Fareed Hakem - Habeeb providing the biggest threat on the left wing.

However it was Bridport who went ahead in the 12th minute when a Riley Weedon cross eventually found Troy Walbridge, who finished from close range. In an even game, Beauchamp squandered a great chance to equalise when he couldn’t finish having robbed Dan Baggs in the home defence with twenty minutes elapsed.

Mal Thomas was denied an equaliser for the visitors when he sent a free kick wide of the post ten minutes from the break, and Rowan Sharratt a shot fizzing across the home penalty area right on half time.

While Bridport started the second half playing with confidence, it was Fleet making the most chances with Beauchamp, Thomas and Hakem-Habeeb all threatening the home goal without affecting the score in the first fifteen minutes of the second half.

Meanwhile, Bees Captain Jake Owen was putting on a master class blocking, tackling and cutting out everything that Fleet could throw at his team. At the other end, Weedon bore down on the visitors goal after a lung busting box to box counter attack, but couldn’t increase Bridport’s lead.

With victory in sight, Rob Marquis’s side were stunned by a contentious penalty decision against Owen, which was smashed home by Thomas in the 93rd minute.

Incredibly, as the Bees reeled, Thomas gleefully found the net as his 94th minute shot from ten yards squeezed between Josh Hadley and the post for the winner sending the visitors through to the next round.

Star Man: Mal Thomas (Fleet Town)

Best Bee: Jake Owen

Bridport: Hadley, Carlile, Ja Scadding (Greenwood - Neate 73), Baker, Baggs, Owen, Hill (Burwood 79), Hansford, Wallbridge, Weedon, Gear (Blango 95)

Subs not used: Gall, Hawker