BRIDPORT 0

SIDMOUTH TOWN 1

BRIDPORT suffered only their third home defeat in all competitions this season as Sidmouth Town held on to win 1-0 at St Mary’s Field.

Dan Baggs’ unfortunate own goal proved decisive as Bridport’s wayward finishing allowed the Vikings to pillage all three points.

Bridport had earlier overcome a battle against their own pitch to get the game on, the Bees’ loyal army of volunteers forking the pitch and laying sand to combat the wettest areas.

Added to the peripheral winds of Storm Kathleen, both teams struggled for fluency while grappling with the conditions.

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The first half was effectively a non-event but Bridport were denied by the offside flag in the 58th minute.

Five minutes later, Sidmouth were ahead as former Tiverton striker Louis Jagger Cane raced onto Ollie Jarrett’s through ball. Jagger Cane’s powerful drive beat Bees’ keeper Mark Cuff and whacked the post before clattering into the innocent Baggs for an own goal.

Luke King, Baggs and Fred Parsons all had chances to equalise, while Riley Weedon and Sol Ayunga had a pair of opportunities but no Bridport player could find the all-important goal.

Backs against the wall, Sidmouth’s frustration threatened to ruin their victory as keeper Jacob O’Callaghan was sin-binned for dissent in the 94th minute, meaning Luke Nickles donned the gloves.

Remarkably, some 17 added minutes were played but Nickles preserved the Vikings’ clean sheet as Sidmouth held on for victory.

Speaking post-match, Bridport boss Chris Herbst said: “It’s really unlucky. To be honest, with the way we were finishing it was only going to be a weird goal to win it.

“Defensively we were quite sound. Cuffy stepped up and didn’t really have too much to do.

“Just a freak goal. Unlucky for Baggsy because he played well. It just ricocheted off him, he couldn’t do anything about it. He apologised but it’s not an apology needed.”

Herbst added: “The chances were there but it just wasn’t our day. There was quite a bit of added-on time but if we were still there I don’t think we would’ve hit the target.”

Bees: Cuff, Childs (Owen 69), Baggs (Gall 83), King, G Calverley, T Diaz (Brook 90+7), Daniels, A Diaz (Coombs 69), Parsons, Weedon, Ayunga.