ELBURTON VILLA 2

BRIDPORT 1

BRIDPORT saw their six-game unbeaten run halted at Elburton Villa after a lacklustre 2-1 defeat in their South West Peninsula League Premier East contest.

Chris Herbst’s Bees had not tasted defeat for 98 days, since a 3-1 loss at Teignmouth, but came unstuck against a side now two points and two places below them in 16th.

Bridport, still 14th, remain in an excellent position to gain places with the teams directly above them having fewer games to play.

Unusually, judged on recent weeks, the Bees did not get going and their best sight of goal at 0-0 came when Fred Parsons volleyed a sweet strike off target from Tom Richardson’s cross.

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Bentley Alcantara then put Elburton ahead for a 1-0 half-time lead and just seconds after the restart Villa netted a pivotal second goal.

Bridport switched off as Reece Brown buried a good finish from a cross speared into the box, ruining the Bees’ team talk.

Bridport could not get going, Riley Weedon inadvertently backheeling a through ball as he attempted to control while running in on goal.

Herbst made four subs in an effort to ignite the Bees and only then did they begin to show glimpses of their recent form.

Sub Robin Jones rushed his shot from a low cross when he had more time to control in the area.

But Bridport gave themselves late hope when Lewis Howe’s brilliant cross picked out the outstanding Parsons to volley home past keeper Jack Dixon.

With momentum going the Bees’ way, one last chance was teed up by Luke King’s deft header back across goal, only for no man in yellow to gamble in a moment encapsulating Bridport’s lethargic display.

Speaking post-match, Herbst said: “We didn’t turn up. In spells we played some really good stuff but the majority of it was poor.

“We played into their hands, they were very one-directional and we couldn’t deal with it. It’s so frustrating.

“The positive side is that when we did get the ball down we played. We made four subs and they’ve done really well.

“The last ten or 15 minutes we played some good stuff but the whole afternoon was frustrating. We didn’t defend well at all.”

Bridport are next in action at home to Holsworthy on Saturday (3pm).

Bees: Jo Scadding, Daniels, Wellman, Baker, King, Stanners, Weedon, Parsons, Gape, Richardson, Ayunga. Subs used: Howe, Childs, Jones, Mann.