BRIDPORT 4

BISHOPS LYDEARD 1

BRIDPORT took their first win for 10 months with a 4-1 success over Bishops Lydeard in their second pre-season friendly at St Mary’s Field.

The Bees last tasted victory back in August 2021 courtesy of a 2-1 win over Ashton & Backwell United.

Edgar Marcu’s men had to do it the hard way against Lydeard, who went 1-0 up in the third minute through Marky Jones following a solo 30-yard run.

Bridport were level just three minutes later when Michael Calverley squeezed his shot into the net from an acute angle, punishing a defensive mistake with his first goal in Bees colours.

READ MORE: Bridport 0-2 Middlezoy Rovers - match report

Bridport created numerous chances with some attractive passing football but goalkeeper Callum Smalley needed to be alert just before half-time to recover from an error in possession.

Lydeard, who play at the same Step 6 level as Bridport will do in 2022/23, kept the Bees at bay until the 70th minute when Callum Arnold made it 2-1.

New signing Sol Ayunga, on his third spell with the club, netted the Bees’ third and Lewis Howe finished off the scoring.

Marcu told the Bridport News: “I’m more than happy and it’s not just about the first win.

“If you ask any person who watched from the stands, we played tiki-taka football.

“But we missed so many opportunities. Everyone, even the fans, said they were impressed about the football Bridport played. I’m a happy manager.”

Bridport now host Balti Sports tonight (7.30pm) in their third outing of pre-season.

Marcu said: “I’m looking to see from the boys focus, the same positive attitude, a team who performs even better.

“The standard I request more and more. We have to be cautious at the same time, respect Balti Sports but we have to play our style of football.”

Bees: Smalley (Wootton), Baggs, Gall, Weir, Osei-Kumi (Grace), Steele, Hereka (Mateus), Hunter (Howe), Greenwood-Neate (Arnold), Brook (Bogdan), M Calverley (Ayunga).