Bees caught up

Bristol Manor Farm 1 Bridport 0

BRIDPORT'S season got off to a bad start after a delayed kick off at The Creek.

The omens were not good for the Bees, who arrived at the ground late after a three and a half hour journey caught up in traffic around the outskirts of Bristol.

Already missing Pete Copeland, Dan Taylor and Trevor Harmer, last minute withdrawals of new boy Scott Dennis and left back Jon Ritchie further hindered manager Bob Russell's preparations.

When the game finally did get underway at 3.45pm, the Premier Division newcomers used their physical presence to good effect and capitalised on a mini-spell of pressure on the half hour mark to score the only goal of the game.

Russell had warned his players to expect a tough battle and was disappointed with the outcome.

He said: "A lot of our players are decent, honest lads and it's not in their nature to play like that, which can be a disadvantage when we come up against physical sides.

"The lead up to the game didn't help us prepare as well as we would have liked. It was difficult to run through and re-enforce certain things before the game and the way we played reflected that.

"I'm not looking to blame anybody for the fact that we did not get the points but there were an awful lot of decisions that confused me. The referee admitted it was his first game at this level and I know we've all got to start somewhere but I was disappointed with his performance.

"There were a few plus points. Young James O'Brien came on and did well and the physical intimidation didn't bother him at all."

O'Brien's debut came earlier than expected, coming on after just 17 minutes for defender Dave Newland, who was clattered by Nic Wilson.

The home side sensed they were getting the upper hand. Wilson was almost on the end of Matt Baird's knock down and when the ball came back out to Andy Gibson, he hooked it wide off the back of Richard Leach.

From the resulting corner, O'Brien stopped Gibson's downward header on the line and moments later, Ian Linney did well to cover across Noel O'Sullivan, racing clear for the Bristol side.

The goal had an element of inevitability about it on 30 minutes, coming from a quick throw from Farm keeper Ian Jones which released the lively Guy Cocks on the left.

He cut inside onto his right foot to spray a raking cross-field ball to James Hughes, who nodded it across a static Martin Peters inside the far post.

Bridport almost hit back immediately with their best chance. Mark Radcliffe's diagonal cross from the right was met by Linney, but Baird was on hand to hack the bouncing ball clear inches from the goal-line.

In the second half, captain Gary McAuley was unlucky not to equalise with a deft chip from 25-yards which had Jones back-pedalling.

The home gloveman also made a good one-handed stop down low to his left to thwart Simon Austin.

At the other end, Wilson smashed high over the bar having to a clear sight of goal and Peters made a fine fingertip save to prevent Hughes adding a second.

Bridport's miserable day was complete when both McAuley and Radcliffe limped off in injury time.