REPORT: Potent Pollard's pair stings the Bees

KELSON Pollard’s late double sealed Bovey Tracey’s eighth win in 10 games on Wednesday night as they stormed to a 4-0 win over Bridport at Mill Marsh.

Pollard, whose eight goals for Bovey have come through four braces, turned the screw with two goals in the final five minutes. Simon Laughton and Ollie Aplin netted the other two goals for the Moorlanders.

'A clean sheet is nice again,’ Bovey boss Will Small said. 'I think we defended well and gave ourselves a good base to work from. 

'We got the goal in the first half and probably could have got a couple more. Second half we had to be patient and we looked dangerous going forward; I thought every time we broke we looked like we were going to create a chance and put it in the back of the net. The second half was very good.’

The hosts survived an early scare as goalkeeper Dom Aplin turned over possession with an unforced error. Solomon Ayunga robbed Aplin of the ball and set-up teammate Fred Parsons, whose tame effort was sent straight to retreating right-back Neil Last on the goal line. Last cleared comfortably.

'We knew Bridport would be much improved from when we played them earlier in the season,’ said Small. 'Just like when we played them then, their threat was the front two – a bit of experience and a bit of pace up there – but I thought we kept them quiet. 

'The back four did a very good job, the midfield three in front were very disciplined and they helped out when they needed to. Our shape was good and then going forward our full-backs were offering.’

Three minutes later, Bovey pushed their noses in front. Captain Lewis Perring looped an inch-perfect cross in from a left-side free-kick, which marauding centre-back Laughton volleyed home with aplomb.

On 76 minutes, Ollie Aplin ended a cold streak in front of net with his second goal in 14 appearances. Lively as ever, Pollard, cleverly drew players across with some trickery on the left flank. The winger then fired a neat pass for Aplin, who thumped home across goal.

Small said: 'He’s not been scoring but he’s worked his socks off for the team in every game; some of them he’s played out wide and some of them he’s played as a bit of a target man through the middle, so it was just a matter of time and he’s taking that goal very well; one touch outside the box and hit it – he doesn’t score many from outside the box, so he’ll be happy with that one.’

Pollard got the goal he always threatens two minutes from time. The youngster latched onto a good ball forward and took a spellbinding touch to take three defenders out of the equation before stroking a superb effort into the netting behind the far post.

But good things come in pairs for Pollard. Deep into injury-time, he was brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded, which he coolly tucked home straight down the middle.

'First half, I think our final decisions and our shooting were not very good but second half we were ruthless in front of goal and probably could have had a couple more,’ Small reflected. 'It was a good all-round performance from the team and we go again Saturday.’