Southern League Division One S&W

Bridgwater Town 1 Evesham United 5

BRIDGWATER Town slipped to a humbling 5-1 defeat at home to Evesham United on Saturday, as visiting striker Adam Mann stole the headlines with four goals.

Mann scored twice in each half after Town’s Harry Horton had levelled the scores with a 29th minute equaliser.

Evesham led 2-1 at half-time and broke away after the break, with Mann continuing his red-hot form in front of goal.

Town manager Paul West said: “They had a player who can score goals and we didn’t.

“We created chances and I thought we could have got something out of the game - the result flattered them.”

Southern League Division One S&W

Bridgwater Town 0 Bishops Cleeve 1

IN spite of playing better than in the Wantage game, Town slipped to their 10th home league defeat against Bishops Cleeve last Tuesday, writes Mark Hollidge.

In 19 out of 44 games played this season Town have failed to score and in this game, based upon the chances created, they should have drawn or possibly won.

Bishops Cleeve didn’t really pose much of an attacking threat, with the exception of right winger Jordan Bryan, and it is fitting that he was the one to score the decisive goal. There was a touch of good fortune about it, though: the ball seemed to rebound into his path and he had a straightforward opportunity to slip the ball low past Jake Viney.

Two minutes later Bishops Cleeve could have scored again when Josh White’s header back to the keeper was intercepted by Shane Bumphrey but the ever-alert Viney was able to leap and catch the lob from the striker. Town’s keeper had been called into action at the end of the first half when he made a great block from Aaron Drake who looked odds- on to score from close in. Other than that, little was seen of the visitors’ attack.

Town’s best chance of the first half came after 20 minutes. Reeko Best’s pace bothered the visitors and he broke clear on the left wing before squaring the ball towards the penalty spot. Sam Towler was racing in to meet the ball but he couldn’t get enough contact to send the ball goalwards, so it went wide.

Town had a lot of second half possession but probably didn’t fire off enough strikes on goal. However, a miss-hit clearance gave Harry Horton a chance from 20 yards but his shot lacked power. A deflected free kick from Conor O’Sullivan caused alarm, and a scramble in the 6 yard box, before being cleared. Then a Callum Laird header from a corner went wide.

Town were dominating the game at this stage and looked the most likely scorers. However, it was at this time that Bishops Cleeve scored.

As on the previous Saturday, three substitutions helped Town to bounce back and they were unlucky to not score at least once in the last 20 minutes.

Isaac Reid spun sharply on a neat pass from Horton and his instant shot was powerful but a few inches too high - he deserved better.

Town host Larkhall on Saturday (3pm).