BRIDPORT 1

Clark 90+2

CRIBBS 2

Lovibond 6, Wanjau-Smith 84 pen

TEN-MAN Bridport sustained a seventh loss in eight games as Cribbs earned a 2-1 victory over the Bees in their Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash at St Mary’s Field.

Former Dorchester Town forward Jordan Lovibond struck after six minutes before Solomon Wanjau-Smith tucked away a penalty on 84 minutes.

Sam Clark pulled back a 92nd-minute goal but his effort was in vain as Bridport were shut out, Matt Condliffe having received two yellow cards, the second for a petulant kick.

While recent performances in defeat to the league’s high-flying sides had been of good quality, Bridport’s levels dipped markedly in this encounter and Lovibond was able to cash in early on.

The striker pounced on a cross from the right to loop a header over the stranded Jason Hutchings as the Bristol-based side took a grip on the game.

Worryingly for Bridport, Louis Rutter suffered another recurrence of his troublesome knee problem and was helped off after seven minutes.

Chances were at a premium thereafter in a scrappy contest, with Bridport coasting through the match.

Condliffe’s first yellow was harshly given for a handball, but his second, a kick out at an opponent, could arguably have been a straight red.

The defender’s loss of composure put the Bees under pressure and Wanjau-Smith was on hand to beat Hutchings from the spot after the gloveman had brought a Cribbs forward down in the box.

Clark’s finish showed his predatory instincts, turning his man before rifling into the bottom corner, but Bridport offered too little, too late.

Speaking to Echosport, boss Adam Fricker cut a frustrated figure and felt Condliffe’s red was down to “stupidity”.

He said: “It was just our own making. From start to finish we didn’t look hungry or up for it, which was a real frustration.

“We had a couple of lads drop out last minute through illness and Dorchester took Ben Morris at the last minute, which was very frustrating from our part.

“We had to reshuffle and lost Louis so we had to patch up and didn’t get going. Cribbs wanted it a lot more.

“It looked like we were waiting for someone else to get us back in the game and no-one was taking responsibility.”

On Condliffe, he added: “The first (yellow) was harsh, he slid in for a tackle and the ball’s caught his hand.

“The second was just stupidity, he petulantly kicked the lad as he went past. It summed up our day.”

Bees: Hutchings, Williams, Rutter (Wood 7), McGrath, Condliffe, Symes, Peach (Thomas 70), Andrews, Cornish (Cox 80), Salter, Clark

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