HAMWORTHY REC 3 BRIDPORT RESERVES 1

ROBIN Townsend expressed his pride with his players’ performance even though depleted Bridport Reserves were undone at the death against Hamworthy Recreation.

The Bridport manager revealed that his squad was down to the bare bones for their Easter Monday encounter at Magna Road and he was scrambling around to raise a side. “It looked like it was going to be a difficult day with the unavailability we had,” he said.

“On Saturday morning I was down to 11 players and Trevor Senior kindly gave me Rhys Hayter from the first-team to make it 12 and then somebody else then pulled out.

“I managed to drag another player in and I was grateful to him for coming in at the last minute.

“I also had to ask Dan Baggs to sit on the bench who has just come back from a long-term injury and Mark Lock also went on the bench.

“Jamie Fry had to pull out so Adam Stordy went in goal again as well and did a very good job.

“I have got to say the squad that played were fantastic.”

Knowing that title-hopefuls Rec were set to be tough opposition, Townsend’s patched up troops contained them admirably during the opening period.

But the hosts then countered on a defensive mistake by Bridport and opened the scoring on the hour mark.

Despite going a goal down, fortune favoured the St Mary’s Field side as they were awarded a penalty to get back into the game.

“It was dubious at least but these things even themselves out. I must admit if it was given against me I would be fuming,” Townsend said about the spot-kick.

Simon Gale stepped up to make it 1-1, but the Bees then crumbled at the death as Rec ramped up the pressure.

The hosts restored their advantage with five minutes to play as Baggs put the ball into his own net, and in pushing for another leveller, the Bees conceded again as Hamworthy ran out 3-1 vic- tors.

Commenting on Rec’s second goal, Townsend added: “From where I was standing, I thought there was a push at the far post. It hit Dan Baggs on the head and looped in off him.

“I was disappointed for us because of the amount of effort we had put in.

“To come away with nothing was a bit gutting for us but, all in all, Hamworthy probably just about deserved it.

“The lads were very downbeat after because they felt they should have got something out of the game.

“Nobody expected us to get anything out of the game but I was delighted with the way we played.”

Bees: Stordy, Rh Hayter, Day, Dunlop (Cummings), B Clarke, Walken (Baggs), Fouracre (M Lock), H Fleet, S Gale, Baker, Scovell