BRIDPORT 1

BRISTOL MANOR FARM 3

TREVOR Senior was determined to focus on the positives at St Mary’s Field on Saturday despite seeing his side suffer a fourth defeat on the spin in all competitions.

The visitors dominated the early stages only for Tom Richardson to put the Bees ahead on 11 minutes against the run of play.

It was a clever pass from the impressive Matt Condliffe that unlocked the Manor Farm defence enabling the ex-Weymouth midfielder to fire home from just inside the box.

However, the lead only lasted seven minutes with Ricky Chand-ler levelling matters by cutting in from the right and beating Sam Filkins with a left-footed curler from 30 yards that caught the home keeper off his line.

Despite that setback, Bridport continued to match their opponents and nearly went ahead again on 26 minutes when Sam Charles saw a shot deflect on to a post.

Danny Maye then missed an open goal from six yards at the other end as the game remained level heading into the break. Bridport returned for the restart in confident mood and enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure early in the second half but could not make their dominance count.

Condliffe saw a sublime cross fly along the six-yard box before Richardson shot over the bar and Charles had an effort cleared off the line.

The sucker punch then arrived on 77 minutes when a fine challenge from Condliffe saw the ball fortuitously fall to Kye Mountfield, who rifled in an unstoppable blockbuster from 35 yards that gave Filkins no chance.

Senior made a last-ditch bid to gain a point by making a triple substitution with nine minutes remaining but with his side pushing forward, Manor Farm took full advantage by gaining a third through a fine header from Steve Fitzpatrick.

The Bridport boss, whose side now sit third bottom in the Toolstation Western Premier, said: “Their passing and movement was very good but in the final 20 minutes of the first half we got closer to them and were unfortunate not to go 2-1 up before the break.

“At the start of the second half we then caused them a lot of the problems but unfortunately we did not take our chances and ended up paying the price.

“I am obviously disappointed about the result but it was a much better performance and the lads could not have done much more.

“We created a lot of chances and there was nothing we could have done to stop their three goals, which were all excellent efforts.

“On the balance of play we definitely deserved something.”

Bees: Filkins, Condliffe (J Charles 81), C Clarke, Evans, Senior, Hayter, A Symes (Watts 81), Wise (G Bulman 81), S Charles, Richardson, Legg. Sub not used: Dennis.