STREET 9

BRIDPORT 2

BRIDPORT suffered a grizzly 9-2 mauling at the hands of Street in their Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash at the Tannery.

Jamie Manley’s Bees, fresh from Saturday’s impressive 1-0 victory over high-flying Hallen, had high hopes going into the contest, but they were extinguished quickly in a poor first half.

Former Bridport winger Leighton Thomas showed his class with two excellent goals in the opening 10 minutes to haunt his former side.

However, Bridport, who have built a dangerous attack this season, put together a good move of their own and in the 21st minute halved the deficit when Lewis Clarke buried his second goal in two games.

Street capitalised on the Bees giving possession away when Patrick O’Halloran punished the visitors to make it 3-1 six minutes later.

And the Cobblers added a fourth on 36 minutes through Jakob Dickens to effectively end the contest.

At half-time, Bridport changed formation to 4-3-3 and sent on Stephen Friend for Dec Cornish, who sustained a suspected dislocated thumb, and Tom Richardson for Jacob Coombs.

The Bees held Street for 20 minutes before the hosts won what appeared to be a soft penalty, Oliver Pearson stepping up to beat Scott Wells-Burr from the spot.

Street’s fifth opened the floodgates and the electric Thomas claimed his hat-trick for 6-1 before Tom Salter unlucky deflected the ball past Wells-Burr for an own goal.

Street were in ruthless mood and added two more late goals through Oliver Hebbard and the outstanding captain Kameron Andrews, another ex-Bee.

There was still time for Friend to bag a well-deserved goal for 9-2 in the 92nd minute, slamming home a cross from out wide, to complete a manic game.

Manley, who apologised to the travelling Bridport support on social media, admitted he was surprised at the manner of the defeat.

He said: “We’ve made small steps, especially after Saturday’s game which was a cracking result.

“We looked at (Street) and thought ‘we’ll give this a good go’. Street played well and took their goals well.

“At times you can carry players, but you can’t carry eight or nine. The lads will hold their hands up and say they didn’t perform.

“They know that, they’re all bitterly disappointed but it was just one of those nights. It was a collective of everything going wrong in one game.

“We’re all disappointed, no-one likes to be hammered by nine. Our main thing is to regroup the lads and get back to a bit of stability on Saturday.”

Bridport host Bradford Town in league action on Saturday (3pm).

Bees: Wells-Burr, Coombs (Richardson 46), Salter, Butcher, Gall, Westlake, Warren, Gape, Cornish (Friend 46), Pinder (Charles 55), Clarke. Sub not used: White

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil