Frampton falters to let point slip away

Bridgwater 2 Bridport Hawks 1

A TERRIBLE schoolboy error from skipper Andrew Frampton gifted Bridgwater all three points with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Frampton had to charter new waters in the left back position after defender Richard Puzey had broken a thumb in a typical no-prisoner taking tackle on five minutes.

After an early scare, the captain cleared off the line from a Bridgwater snap shot - the home side's only attempt in the first half.

Hawks' right winger Rick Steele made several surging runs down the right flank, linking up well with organ grinder Alex Davis in midfield.

The duo fashioned out a chance for Wakely, whose original shot was saved by the keeper, but the rebound fell kindly for him and he reverse swept it in from close range with only 20 minutes gone.

Davis had a chance to make it two, but his effort was well saved from a drive from the top of the D.

He also had a short corner shot stopped and as the ball trickled perilously along the goal line, renowned pouncer Rusty Coombes couldn't quite bundle it over.

Centre forward Rick Dormor also had a shooting chance from the top of the D, but unusually swung over the top of the ball.

Playmaker Lee Connally - swamped by a youthful Bridgwater midfield - had little time to make his usual telling passes, although at Hawks defence protected Mike May well with Charlie Davis removing any danger.

However, in the second half, Bridgwater completely took control with Bridport constantly giving the ball away.

The hosts eventually forced a short corner and with a well worked switch of play, slotted a classy goal.

Then disaster struck as Frampton was isolated and dispossessed. A first time cross was bulleted in for the Bridgwater striker to sweep home, leaving May helpless.

With so little time left, Hawks threw everyone forward and centre back Jim Bowditch had a fierce shot charged down at the death from a Connally pass.

Frampton said: "Losing such a strong defender as Puzey proved too big a hole to plug in the end.

"We had some great chances to kill the game in the first half but sadly it came back to haunt us.

"Jim Bowditch and Charlie Davis were phenomenal in defence for us, but my error let the side down on what was a game we could of easily have won."

Bridport Hawks: M May, J King, C Davis, A Frampton, J Bowditch, L Connally, S Wakely, R Steele, A Davis, R Coombes, R Dormor, R Puzey.

Other results: Dawlish 0 East Devon A 1; Plymouth Uni A 1 Mid Somerset 4; Tavistock 3 Yeovil and Sherborne A 0