BRIDPORT 0

OKEHAMPTON ARGYLE 5

BRIDPORT were sent to a shock 5-0 home defeat as this season’s nemesis Okehampton Argyle again proved their undoing.

Okehampton had already knocked the Bees out of the Walter C Parson Cup semi-final in extra-time, but few could have foreseen a scoreline of this nature.

Coming into the game, Bridport had only lost three times at St Mary’s Field in 2023/24 but found themselves 3-0 down in only 25 minutes.

Luke Mortimore got the ball rolling two minutes in, firing home across goal from the right of the box.

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Mortimore doubled Argyle’s lead when he beat the offside trap and put just enough purchase on his shot to beat both keeper Jordon Scadding and the retreating Dan Baggs.

Sol Ayunga and James Cox wasted half-chances for Bridport before Jake Rowe made it 3-0, punishing a woeful clearance to score from six yards.

Ayunga then charged down goalkeeper Mike Searle’s attempted goal-kick only to see the ball thud to safety before half-time.

Bridport puzzlingly emerged with no changes but did go close to 3-1 as skipper Luke King and Ayunga went unrewarded.

However, sub Dan Koita put the game to bed when he capitalised on a rebound before blasting home for 4-0.

Koita spurned two more chances before finally cashing in for a fifth goal, speeding down the right and lashing beyond Scadding to seal Bridport’s heaviest home defeat for 19 months, since a 7-2 thumping by Bovey Tracey.

Adding insult to injury, Kieren Daniels saw red for two soft yellows as Bridport ended with 10 men.

Speaking post-match, livid Bees’ boss Chris Herbst insisted the performance marked a new low in his tenure.

“It’s the worst performance since I’ve been in charge, without doubt,” he said.

“It was everything from the off, we were not at the races. Too many people blaming each other, arguing. We haven’t had that all season. I don’t have a clue where it’s come from.

“I’m just so annoyed. That’s second wrapped up now, we won’t be getting that. A lot of the players now are playing for their shirts for next season.”

Bridport host Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Bees: Jo Scadding, Cox, Baggs, Owen, King, G Calverley, Daniels, Gape, Maunsell, Ayunga, Rowe. Subs: Childs, Gall, Brook, D Lock, I House.