BLANDFORD UNITED 6

BRIDPORT RES 2

BRIDPORT Reserves will be glad to see the back of Blandford United after a 6-2 loss spelled their fourth defeat by the Royals this season.

This was Blandford’s sixth victory over Bridport Reserves in 2023, the Royals notching six goals against the Bees on three occasions.

Bridport have now failed to beat Blandford since a 2-1 win in January 2022, courtesy of Robin Jones and Joe Etherington goals.

And the omens did not look good for the Bees early in their Dorset Premier League clash, moved to Blandford School’s 3G at short notice with Park Road’s saturated playing surface.

READ MORE: Blandford United 2-0 Bridport Reserves - report

Ryan Horwood rattled the Bees’ crossbar before Blandford’s leading scorer Mark Ford pounced on a parry by Mark Cuff, the keeper unlucky to concede after making a good save.

Ford’s opportunistic lob made it 2-0 and the ex-Weymouth striker once more reacted quickest to a loose ball when Elliot Manson’s shot was pushed out by Cuff, securing a first-half hat-trick.

Ford made it a quadruple before half-time when Tyler Rutten found him in space outside the box, allowing the forward to bury a good low finish beyond Cuff for his 26th goal of the season.

Bridport, to their credit, stuck to the task in the second half and Josh Baker plundered home a powerful direct free-kick for 4-1.

However, Blandford sub Archie McCarthy bagged two goals in two minutes when he first headed home a pinpoint Reuben Stanley cross.

McCarthy then completed his brace and added Blandford’s sixth goal when Joe Kempster played him through and the midfielder shaped his shot around the advancing Cuff for 6-1.

Bridport were not done there though and grabbed a second consolation when sub Ali Kamara punished a defensive mistake before tucking in underneath Royals keeper Sam Pike.

Adam Herring’s Bees visit winless Sturminster Marshall in a crucial fixture this Saturday (2pm).

Bees Res: Adler, Ayunga, Baker, Coombs, Cuff, Elliott, Gall, Mansley, Partridge, Steele, Taylor. Subs: Burwood, Day, Kamara.