BRIDPORT 3

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT TOWN 5

POOR defending once more cost Bridport as they crashed out of the FA Vase first round thanks to a 5-3 defeat to Royal Wootton Bassett Town at St Mary’s Field.

That was despite a spirited late trio of goals as Bridport gave the scoreline a more respectable feel against a side ranked one tier above them.

Chris Herbst’s men have now conceded 16 goals in his first three official games as boss, with three coming in the first 20 minutes of this tie.

Herbst had given Bridport the task of being organised but instead the Bassett attack carved them open as Gio Wrona, Alfie Presley and Matt Bennett all beat keeper Jordon Scadding.

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It took Bridport conceding three goals to finally settle as the Bees then began to implement their game plan and construct some decent passing moves.

Bridport had two big chances after half-time, the best coming to Riley Weedon who was unfortunate to see the ball stick under his feet and spurn the opening.

Despite Bridport’s good start, Bennett then added his second and Bassett’s fourth with the visitors’ first real chance of the half.

Adding insult to injury, Bridport gave away a contentious penalty as Josh Baker was judged to have tripped an opponent in the box, although the midfielder claimed he made no contact.

The result was Bennett converting the spot-kick for his hat-trick before Bridport staged a late fightback.

Sol Ayunga scored his first goal of the season with 18 minutes to go and Ryan Gall added a second in the 89th minute.

The game was long up before Luke King also grabbed his first goal of the campaign in the 93rd minute, leaving boss Herbst with a case of what might have been.

Post-match, he said: “It was always going to be a tough ask. We gifted them three goals – you can’t give any team a three-goal head start.

“We came away from the gameplan and it took three goals to wake up. Some of the defending was ridiculous, it’s killed us.

“We came out second half, we had chances, they had one and score so it’s 4-0 and then it’s game over.”

Bridport host Plymouth Marjon in league action on Saturday (3pm).

Bees: Jo Scadding, Childs, King, Gall, Greenwood-Neate (Baker 35), D Peart (Howe 52), Gape, Weedon, Hereka (Hunter 46), O Peart, Ayunga.

Bridport man of the match: Jake Childs