CLEVEDON TOWN 5

BRIDPORT 0

BRIDPORT crashed to a 15th Toolstation Western League Premier Division defeat of the season as Clevedon Town claimed a comfortable 5-0 win.

There was all kinds of trouble for the Bees prior to kick-off as assistant-manager Shaun Annetts took the team warm-up in the absence of boss Rob Marquis.

The Bees’ manager, who only had 12 players in his squad, arrived at Clevedon 15 minutes prior to kick-off due to train delays holding up a player rendezvous en route to the ground.

It was less than ideal preparation to face a Clevedon side brimming with confidence under new boss Alex White – at 27 years old becoming the youngest manager in the division.

Bridport were slow out of the traps as Clevedon’s Ethan Feltham headed just wide before Town took the lead in the 14th minute.

READ MORE: Bridport 0-7 Tavistock - match report

Glen Hayer’s crossfield pass supplied Archie Ferris who coolly nutmegged Greg Taylor in the Bees’ goal.

Taylor made a good save from Freddie King and Bees’ skipper Jake Owen blocked well from Syd Camper as the visitors continued to come under pressure.

But five minutes before the break, Ferris made it 2-0 with a rasping shot across Taylor.

Despite losing Dan Baggs to injury, Bridport survived until the hour mark but two goals in two minutes for Clevedon heralded a familiar grim pattern for the Bees this season.

Ferris grabbed his hat-trick, turning home Jack Goodall’s cross, before King’s solo run and shot beat Taylor for 4-0 in the 62nd minute.

Bridport responded with a brace of narrow misses for Curtis Hansford in two minutes, the second a free-kick.

However, Clevedon made it 5-0 within 60 seconds Alex Camm followed up a rebound from an excellent Taylor save.

Taylor saved from Feltham and Calum Eastwood hit the crossbar as Clevedon continued to raid forward.

Bridport’s best chance fell to sub Callum Arnold in injury-time, pinching the ball off Glen Hayer and rippling the side netting.

Post-match, Marquis said: “It was a lacklustre performance from us, particularly in the first half.

“I would single out Jake and Greg, who played very well and didn’t deserve what they were on the end of. Curtis played very well as well.

“We had a lot of unavailability. We’re in a tough league and we lack the quality for the league unfortunately.

“I’ve got a lot of young players that will progress but you worry if it’s detrimental to their progress being chucked in too early.”

Bees: Taylor, Ward, A Steele, Owen, Baggs (Arnold 50), Hansford, Waple-Moors, Brook, Boulton, Osei-Kumi, Greenwood-Neate.