THE Town went into this game looking to build on their recent run of results, with Dave Thompson returning to the starting line up in place of Josh Robinson.
The visitors started brightly and Condliff screwed his effort wide when well placed and the Town were grateful for a couple of blocks to keep the scores level in the first 15 minutes. However as the half progressed the Town got into their stride and on 12 minutes a dangerous Shaun Benison cross was only partially cleared, and Dan Kovacs overhead effort just lacked enough power to trouble the keeper.
On 19 minutes Kovacs laid the ball into the path of Higdon but his 20 yard effort went well over. On 20 minutes Town keeper Drewitt was again called into action to foil an effort from Condliff. On 31 minutes Senior became the first caution of the game for a late challenge, and as the chances came and went Kovacs saw his effort on goal well saved by Bridport keeper Filkins on 35 minutes, and from the resultant corner both Stocks and Higdon went close with efforts.
On 38 minutes a fine driving run from the Town’s Will Stead saw him lay the ball into the path of Higdon, and whilst his effort beat the keeper it crashed against the inside of the post and away to safety, and in keeping with the open half Drewitt in the Town goal saved well from Dovell just before the break which came with the sides level at 0-0.
The second period was a much less open affair and after Higdon pulled his effort wide on 53 minutes the home side found it difficult to create anything of note, and the visitors began to control the game and Bridport’s Morley was unlucky to see his fine run and cross skim along the 6 yard box with no attacker able to get a touch on it.
As the home sides frustration grew Benison picked up a caution for dissent on 63 minutes and on 71 minutes Drewitt produced a good tip over from a header from Watts. In a bid to get back into the game Town manager Perrin brought on Flower and Johnson for Greener and Benison on 74 minutes.
However Bridport took the lead on 78 minutes when Watts found himself with some space out wide and hit a 20 yard cross shot into the far corner of the goal . On 84 minutes a Tom Robinson corner was flicked onto the Bridport bar and the Town picked up another two needless cautions for dissent in the closing stages by Tom Robinson and Stead.
With five minutes remaining Josh Robinson replaced his brother Tom. The Town’s misery was complete on 87 minutes when a driven cross from Dovell could only be helped into his own net by Ian Jeffery to give Bridport a 2-0 victory which they deserved based on their second half showing, whilst the Town will rue a couple of missed opportunities in the first period and a disappointing second half performance.
Team: Drewitt, Greener, Jeffery, Stocks, Cox, Robinson T, Thompson, Higdon, Kovacs, Stead, Benison. Subs: Flower, Robinson J, Johnson.
