SO NEAR yet so far is an ideal phrase to sum up Bridport’s first Toolstation Western League Division One season under new boss Ian Hutchinson.
Expectations have certainly risen at St Mary’s Field since the former Terras’ midfielder was tasked with keeping the West Dorset outfit afloat upon his appointment last May.
Armed with a shoestring budget and relying principally on homegrown talent, there is no doubt Hutchinson, and his lieutenant Andy Mason, have transformed the Bees into a competitive side.
Gone are the calamitous defensive errors that plagued Royston Davies’ reign but, ultimately, an inability to seize the jugular scuppered the top-10 finish Hutchinson had targeted.
Many rough diamonds have been unearthed from the reserves although strikers were in short supply, with Bridport’s 51-goal tally better only than whipping boys Minehead.
Hutchinson said: “I would have taken our final position at the start of the season but now looking at it I’m slightly disappointed.
“Apart from champions Larkhall Athletic no other team has been that much better than us.
“We want progress and we’ve got that this year but the challenge is there to improve.
“The players understand they need to put in hard graft but they are all youngsters and I think they can do even better next season.”
Last summer Hutchinson recruited a couple of experienced names in the form of Mark Kenway and ex-Dorch-ester Town left-back Simon Radcliffe.
And it was Radcliffe who played a starring role when the Bees dumped higher-league Barnstaple Town out of the FA Cup in the preliminary round last August.
Southern League giants Clevedon Town ended that adventure but Bridport’s homecoming after the completion of their brand-spanking new changing rooms coincided with an upturn in form.
They climbed to 11th only to see a goal drought stall their progress, and although several strike-force combinations were auditioned, efforts from midfield and defence became imperative.
Another spate of home victories – notable scalps including Longwell Green Sports and Hengrove Athletic – left Hutchinson’s charges within touching distance of the top five.
But injuries to key players such as Radcliffe and another misfiring spell with the shooting boots paved the way for a run of one win in 11 games, which concluded their campaign with a whimper rather than a crescendo.
Hutchinson has identified and promised to address several areas in need of refinement and, by his own admission, finding a marksman capable of bagging 20 goals a season is at the top of his in-tray.
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