CADBURY HEATH 4

BRIDPORT 0

BRIDPORT turned in a frustrating performance as Cadbury Heath ran out 4-0 winners in their Toolstation Western League Premier Division tussle.

Mike Huxley was the star for the Heathens, claiming all four goals as Bridport were left to rue a wild missed Ed Butcher penalty with the Bees trailing at 1-0.

The defeat was the second time in two games that Bridport had conceded four goals after Saturday’s 4-2 loss at Wellington halted a four-game unbeaten streak.

Bridport were victims of their own downfall for Heath’s opening goal as Luke King instinctively thrust an arm out to block a cross, giving away a needless spot-kick that Huxley sent past goalkeeper Jason Hutchings on 21 minutes.

However, Bridport were handed a possible reprieve when Butcher’s mazy run past two defenders drew a scything challenge in the box to earn a penalty four minutes later.

Searching for his 13th goal in 13 games, Butcher stepped up but slashed the penalty well over the bar and out of the ground.

Butcher’s miss proved pivotal as Huxley grabbed his second just after half-time, negating a bobbly pitch by flicking past Hutchings for 2-0.

As Bridport chased the game, chances were created and spurned as substitute Declan Cornish headed wide when unmarked at the back post and Richard Hebditch following suit with two back-post misses.

Huxley cashed in with his hat-trick on the break, punishing the Bees before rounding off the scoring with another counter-attacking goal on 85 minutes.

Speaking to Echosport, boss Adam Fricker admitted Bridport’s performance had an “end of season” vibe.

He said: “Four-nil looks like a drubbing, when it wasn’t. They probably had five chances and scored four goals.

“It was disappointing and we probably dominated large parts of the first half without taking our chances. The keeper’s pulled off two saves from Leighton (Thomas) and Sam Clark.

“Their manager’s summed it up by saying ‘you boys could have stayed out there all night and not scored’. It was just one of those days.

“What was frustrating from my perspective was that our passing was off. It had an end of season feel to it. I said to the lads ‘we’re not downing tools, we need to be going up until that last game’, then we can sit back and relax when the season’s finished. It felt like we took our foot off the gas a lot.”

Bridport host title contenders Willand Rovers tomorrow (1pm).

Bees: Hutchings, Condliffe, King, Martin, Cox, Peach, Andrews, Thomas (Morris 70), Clark (Hebditch 55), Butcher (Cornish 70), Salter. Sub not used: McGrath