BRIDPORT 3

BUCKLAND ATHLETIC 1

BRIDPORT ended their four-game losing run with a late flurry that saw them beat Buckland Athletic 3-1 in the Toolstation Western Premier Division.

Declan Cornish also crowned his return to St Mary’s Field with a goal and assist despite coming on as a substitute late on.

Buckland also had James Richards sent off after 70 minutes for a late lunge on Dan Peach.

Mark Salter opened the scoring for the hosts after eight minutes, Andy Martin, playing in midfield, hit a ball over the top in between the two centre-halves which allowed Salter to produce a left-footed lobbed finish over the onrushing Buckland goalkeeper Kenny Griffiths.

However, the Bucks equalised shortly after.

They got the ball down the left through Connor Clifford, who clipped a ball into Charlie Johansen who fired in past Bridport keeper Jason Hutchings.

The first half ended all square, but Buckland came out strongly in the second half, but came up against a Bridport defence well-marshalled by Chris McGrath.

Buckland were then reduced to 10 men after 70 minutes.

Ben Morris received an elbow to the face, which the referee missed, but Dan Peach took control of the ball to try and stop the play, but Richards flew in with a tackle that earned him a straight red card.

Cornish then came on for Morris, and this proved decisive 19 minutes later.

A crossfield pass from James Regan freed Sam Clark, who crossed in for Cornish to nod in.

Cornish then turned provider by storming into the box, and placing the ball on a plate for Clark to score a late third.

Bees’ assistant-boss Paddy Behan praised the returning Cornish for his performance.

Behan said: “They were down to 10 men then so it was a good time to bring him on because he is a talented little footballer Dec is.

“He didn’t really get much of a chance with us last season because we had a lot of attacking options.

“He gave us a little bit of a spark, scored a really good goal.”

Bees: Hutchings, King, McGrath, Condliffe, Peach (Wood 75), Martin, Andrews, Morris (Cornish 70), Salter, Clark. Subs not used: Fricker, Smith, Hull

Bucks: Griffiths, Harrison, Head, Todd, Clifford, Richards, Groves, Gardner, Johansen (Rudge 59) Radford (Durham 77), Bush (Roberts 77)