BRIDPORT 2 LONGWELL GREEN 4

TREVOR Senior picked the positives out of his threadbare side’s setback at home to Longwell Green Sports on Saturday, and overall, had no complaints with the way his side performed.

Midfielder Dan Wise’s wedding had given Senior a selection problem with a number of the Bees’ regular squad attending the service, meaning the manager himself even took a place on the bench for the weekend’s encounter.

Even with a host of absentees within the Bridport ranks, 16-year-old Rhys Hayter put them in front on his inaugural start for the first team, as they went in level at 1-1 at the interval.

Having then taken the lead once more through striker Warren Byerley in the second half, eventually, Seniors troops ran out of steam and succumbed to a 4-2 loss that the manager believes they could have got more out of in hindsight.

Senior said: “We did alright to be fair, I have no qualms with the way that we played, on another day we could have won the game.

“We still had 13 players that were good first team players, I was the third sub because our reserves were stretched as well.

“There were a lot of positives to come out of it because with so many players out we still put in a good performance.

“Obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted but I think we deserved to get a draw at least.”

Commenting on youngster Hayter, the Bridport manager added: “That’s a couple of goals he has got now and he has been involved since midway through last season, he has been on the bench a lot and made a few cameo appearances, and he took his goal well.

“He is learning all the time and has a great attitude, it was an ideal opportunity to put him in and he did not let himself down.”

The Bees also gave a start to former Weymouth Reserves’ defender Adam Anstey, who made the switch to St Mary’s Field earlier this week.

Bees: Weeks, J Filkins, Condliffe, Anstey, Stewart, Watts, A Symes (Morley 78), Rh Hayter (Bulman 70), Byerley, Dovell, J Symes. Sub not used: T Senior.

Man of the match: Sean Stewart

Attendance: 93