A MISERABLE performance against Wincanton Town last night sentenced Bridport Reserves to their second 5-0 humbling in two weeks.
Fresh from a morale-boosting success over Cranborne, Mike Savage’s troops were intent on recording back-to-back wins against an unpredictable Wincanton outfit.
But the visitors could scarcely believe their luck as they profited from lax defending on a wretched night at St Mary’s Field for the Bees.
Boss Savage made five changes from the line-up that started against Cranborne, drafting in new recruit Dan Besant between the sticks while Adam Stordy, Jamie McClements, Harry Fleet and Ben Ward bolstered the outfield ranks.
It proved to be a baptism of fire for Besant, who was plucking the ball from his net after 18 minutes when Alex Tremlett outstripped skipper Steve Churchill before slotting home.
Ben Ward’s tame shot at Chris Leach was as close as the home side came to opening their account in the first 45 minutes, although McClements also scuffed a decent opportunity to work the visitors’ stopper.
Having identified a fragile defence as Bridport’s major weakness, Wincanton’s ploy of unleashing their speedy frontmen on to long clearances paid dividends straight after the restart.
A quick punt downfield led to an exchange of passes between Mike Cooper and Dan Golding, whose cross was spilled by Besant allowing Nick Ward to mop up.
Four minutes later the deficit was three when the hustling Tremlett again outpaced Chur-chill and finished with aplomb.
Substitute Dave Penn’s stinging free-kick drew a smart save from Leach – as did McClements’ firecracker – but it was a damning indictment of the Bees’ attacking invention that this was all they could muster.
And to compound matters, Besant was credited with an own goal on 75 minutes after flapping at Golding’s dead-ball delivery before Nick Ward added his second in the dying moments.
Bees: Besant, Stordy, Boyer, Churchill, J Maidment (Penn, 55), Cummings (McAllister 77), McClements (L Hayter 79), Fleet, B Clarke, Ward, Jones.
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