BRIDPORT 3

BRADFORD TOWN 3

BRIDPORT managed to secure a point in a thrilling home encounter with Bradford Town on Saturday, despite boss Adam Fricker admitting “we didn’t turn up for about 45 minutes”.

The Bees fell behind inside the opening half after conceding from a corner, but got back on level terms with 36 minutes on the clock through a set-piece of their own – Kris Hastings applying the final touch.

But the Bees’ chief was left frustrated by his side’s first-half display as another Bradford corner resulted in another goal for the away side. They claimed a 2-1 advantage at the break.

Fricker said: “In the first half, to be fair, we were very poor. We didn’t turn up for about 45 minutes.

“We were not at the races and there were a few choice words at half-time I suppose. We changed the formation slightly and brought on Lewis Rutter and Ed Butcher.

“We were playing wing-backs in the first half and we weren’t getting high enough up the pitch to push them back. So we changed to a 4-3-3 with Ed and Tom Blair giving us width.”

And Fricker did not have to wait long to get the reaction he desired as a strong run from Blair ended in him striking home from 25 yards for 2-2.

Striker Mark Salter then made it 3-2 to the St Mary’s Field side after 68 minutes with substitute Butcher having the desired impact, getting down the line and pulling the ball back for Salter.

But Bradford were not finished as the Bees allowed Town to strike at goal and find the net to wrap up the game at 3-3.

Fricker added: “We played a lot better football in the second half and were disappointed not to come away with the three points really.”

Bees: Hutchings, Condliffe (Rutter 46), Haines, Martin, Hastings, Chlopecki, Spurway (Peach 70), Symes (Butcher 46), Barrett, Salter, Blair. Sub not used: Woodland

Attendance: 118