BRIDPORT 3

BROCKENHURST 1

The Bees eased their way into the next round of the FA Vase with a 3-1 win over Wessex League opponents Brockenhurst, writes Jon Smith.

The visitors might have guessed that it wasn’t going to be there day when the team bus broke down shortly after leaving their ground.

The delay in finding replacement transport saw the kick off delayed by fifteen minutes.

When the game started , all of Bridport’s goals were scored by Solomon Ayunga, the first coming when he poked home a left wing cross after four minutes.

Six minutes later, on the right hand edge of the penalty box, he rocketed in an unstoppable shot from ten yards out to double the host's lead.

There was concern after 20 minutes for The Badgers when a tackle on Brandon Channell sent the Brockenhurst player sliding off of the field, under the pitch side railing and onto the concrete surround path.

Thankfully, although he had to be substituted off, the player made his way to the dressing rooms under his own steam.

On a very hot afternoon, temperatures on the field were rising and both captains were summoned to speak to the ref in the 26th minute, in an attempt to cool tempers.

Tellingly,  the most notable event after that was Ayunga completing his first half hattrick ten minutes before the break, when a slick passing move found him in the centre of the 18 yard line, from where he beat Badgers keeper Will Butler with ease.

Home fans nerves were tingling when, four minutes into the second half, Ben Atiako-Hall pulled a goal back for the visitors after spotting Bees keeper Jordan Scadding off his line and chipping the ball into the net. 

Shortly afterwards, in an incident involving Bridport’s James Cox and the visitors Luke Gray, the former was booked while the latter received a straight red for violent conduct.

The reaction of Bridport coach Jim Lukosius was such that he was also dismissed.

Although Brockenhurst were probing for a second goal to worry their hosts as the half ran down, The Bees could have increased their score when substitutes Breyden Jones and Kierman Coombs saw shots go narrowly wide or saved by visitors ‘keeper.

The final attempt of the game saw Will Gape fire in a shot that grazed the Badgers bar in the 90th minute, before the final whistle confirmed The Bees progress in the competition.