CRANBORNE 1 BRIDPORT RESERVES 3

JACK Scovell scored on his return from injury to seal a first win in five league outings for Bridport Reserves.

The 3-1 scoreline flattered the hosts as the Bees missed numerous chances to make the winning margin more emphatic.

However, boss Robin Townsend was still glad to see a much better performance from his men following their heavy cup loss to Portland United a week earlier.

Players returning to the first-team squad, injuries and unavailability due to work commitments meant Townsend had to make changes after the defeat by the islanders.

As well as Scovell, Dan Peart came back into the side following an injury, while Rhys Hayter switched to a defensive role with Townsend struggling for cover at the back.

Ben Clarke broke the deadlock inside the first 15 minutes to put the visitors 1-0 up, and it was a goal that owed a lot to the quick thinking of Roger Cummings.

Spotting the Cranes’ keeper off his line, Cummings tried an audacious chip from 40 yards that came back off the crossbar but fell to Clarke who tapped it into the empty net.

Bridport then doubled their lead early in the second half when Harry Fleet found the top corner from 12 yards.

And after coming off the bench for Tom Fouracre, Scovell produced a superb finish to make it 3-0 with 75 minutes on the clock.

Clarke had the chance to add a fourth but missed from the penalty spot, while Cranborne netted a late consolation.

“It should have been a lot more than it was but, overall, I was satisfied with the result,” said Townsend.

“We should have killed them off after scoring the first goal but our finishing wasn’t quite clinical enough.”

Bridport are 10th in the Dorset Premier League and travel to Sherborne Town Reserves on Saturday (2pm).

Bees: Fry, Stordy, Baggs, Steele, Hayter, Fouracre (Scovell 55), Legg (Peart 70), Fleet, Gale (Walken 80), Cummings, Clarke