CRIBBS 7

BRIDPORT 0

BRIDPORT interim boss Mark Carter described the scramble to even field a side at Cribbs on Saturday as “embarrassing” and “soul destroying”.

The Bees have now had the bare 11 players, with Carter as an unused substitute, for their last two games – both times without a recognised goalkeeper.

An injured Alan Hill, who was nursing a pulled hamstring, had to don the gloves on this occasion, and the Bees were only trailing 1-0 at the break. Chances fell to Mark Salter and Tom Richardson for the visitors to even take a shock lead at the interval.

But Cribbs then realised the fact that Hill was not a regular gloveman, and struck no fewer than six times in the second period to hammer the Bees.

Carter, who spoke to the likes of goalkeepers Ashley Weeks, Steve Boore, Jamie Fry and Lee Cleal in a bid to try and get a keeper in, told Echosport: “Alan wasn’t at fault for any of the goals, it was just a case that he couldn’t move.

“We couldn’t put someone who couldn’t move, outfield.

“The worst thing is, we could have been 3-1 up at half-time!

“Even their manager said ‘you were better than us for the whole of the first half’.”

Speaking about regular Bees’ players turning the stand-in manager down to feature for the first team, Carter added: “It’s embarrassing.

“I think the club all together has around 68 players signed on, maybe more than that.

“The whole scenario of players not making themselves available with schoolboy excuses – I have never known it in football.

“I was on the phone the day before all day and all night, It’s just soul destroying.

“When I played football, everyone I played with all loved playing football. I think society has changed with players commitment wise.”

Asked if he was still happy to take charge until the end of the season, if a permanent managerial appointment is not made by then, Carter said: “I wouldn’t say I’m happy!

“I dread to think what Tuesday night (away at Hallen) is going to be like.

“There were quite a few lads that were saying ‘I’m not playing Tuesday now and I’m not playing for the rest of the season. None of the others can be bothered so why should we?’.

“If we were a top-five side now and doing really well we would have a full side wouldn’t we? We wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

Richardson also agreed to help the Bees out on the day, even though he may have had the option of playing for Portland United and helping them seal the league title.

Carter added: “We knew he was joking with the lads but his words in the changing rooms were ‘I’ve come here and lost 7-0. I could have been picking up a winners’ medal!’.”