BRIDPORT 0

MIDDLEZOY ROVERS 2

TEN-MAN Bridport got their pre-season campaign off to an unfortunate start as Middlezoy Rovers took a 2-0 victory at St Mary’s Field.

Middlezoy, who play in Step 7 – one tier below the Bees – were peppered in the first half by Bridport’s attack but were let off the hook by a succession of misses.

Riley Greenwood-Neate, Mike Calverley, Radu Bogdan, Mo Hereka and Callum Arnold were among the players to squander good chances in front of goal.

While the Bees’ attacking play was positive, they were punished in the second half when goalkeeper Kian Wootton was shown a red card for handling outside the area.

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With no substitute keeper on the bench, defender Josh Grace took the gloves but was caught in possession for the first goal, allowing Adam Long to score.

And Grace, advancing from his goal, was then beaten to a long ball by Charlie Bridges, who lifted a composed finish over the emergency keeper for 2-0.

Speaking post-match, Bridport manager Edgar Marcu said: “In the first 45 minutes we were bossing the game and we missed six or seven chances to score – probably even more than that.

“We took a red card, the goalkeeper came out of the box and made a handball and then the balance has been broken.

“But loads of positives, the boys played really good football, passed the ball really nicely, combined nice but obviously it’s pre-season.

“We have to try things and by the next game you expect to be better.”

Bridport host Bishops Lydeard on Tuesday in their second pre-season friendly (7.45pm).

Bees: Wootton, Baggs, Weir, Osei-Kumi, Grace, Steele, Hereka, Greenwood-Neate, Bogdan, Arnold, M Calverley. Subs: Owen, Batten-Coe, Mamanta, Lewis.