CLEVEDON TOWN 1

BRIDPORT 2

BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker feels his side have “the monkey off their back” after picking up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Clevedon Town.

Mark Salter opened the scoring for the Bees in the 22nd minute after getting onto Ed Butcher’s cross before Daine O’Connor equalised for the hosts six minutes into the second half.

Salter netted his second of the afternoon in the 65th minute to win the game for the visitors.

After the match, Fricker told Echosport: “I’m delighted, but it’s nice to get that monkey off our back.

“By all means it wasn’t a great performance if I’m honest. We had to dig in and do the right things.

“We deserved the three points but I felt we actually played better in the first two games than we did against Clevedon.”

After a loss in the FA Cup to Alresford Town and a midweek league defeat to Buckland Athletic, Fricker’s charges were looking to finally open their account for the season

They started well on a bobbly surface against the Seasiders and took the lead midway through the first half.

Butcher delivered a delightful ball into the box and Salter was on hand to net his first league goal of the season with a deft finish, after beating his marker to the ball.

The Bees were in control of a tight game as half-time came around, but the home side drew level in the 51st minute.

From a free-kick, the ball was not cleared by Bridport and O’Connor was on hand to nip in and grab the leveller for Clevedon.

But, undeterred, the Bees kept piling the pressure on and got their just rewards 15 minutes later.

In an almost carbon copy of their first strike, Butcher’s cross found Salter, who made no mistake from six yards.

The Bees then held out for the rest of the game as Butcher spurned a one-on-one chance with five minutes to play.

It was to be Salter, though, who took the plaudits from his manager after the victory.

Speaking about the striker, Fricker said: “His experience is vital to the younger players.

“If we put the ball in the right areas we know he will be on hand to finish them, and he proved that against Clevedon.

“Strikers like that are worth their weight in gold.”

Bees: Hutchings, Haines, Hastings, Martin, Barrett (Hill 70), Spurway, Peach, Symes, Woodland (Rutter 55), Butcher, Salter. Sub not used: Fricker