Toolstation Western League
Premier Division
Bridgwater Town 1, Willand Rovers 4

BRIDGWATER Town surrendered top spot in the Premier Division on a day when the result was as miserable as the weather.

Goals from Luke Mortimore, Ryan Guppy, Luke Alden and Josh Searle secured the points for Willand Rovers at a rain-soaked Fairfax Park, with Jack Taylor claiming the hosts' consolation.

READ MORE: Bridgwater Town v Willand Rovers as it happened

In heavy rain and wind, the visitors from Devon dominated the early stages, and stand-in goalkeeper Steve Oliver did well to deny Dean Stamp after the striker had shrugged Bridgwater debutant George Painter aside.

It was a game of few passing moves in what was a pretty relentless downpour, so set-pieces looked a good bet for a goal – Lee Begg sending a looping header over from Ian Bellinger's free-kick, in a rare foray forward from the hosts.

The breakthrough came on the half hour, and will not be fondly remembered by the members of the Robins' back four, who allowed Alden's low cross from the left to pass right across the penalty area, and Mortimore tucked it home at the back post.

Bridgwater responded well, Taylor having a goal ruled out for offside, but they were 2-0 down on 42 minutes, as Alden was denied by Oliver, but then the winger's corner was headed in by an unmarked Guppy at the near post.

The Robins then mounted a good counter-attack, Dave Thorne's cross reaching Jake Brown, but he was denied what looked a certain goal by an excellent Mike Searle save.

There was little to write home about in the early stages of the second half, until Willand effectively wrapped it up with a third goal on the hour.

Livewire Alden burst forward from halfway, played a neat one-two with Craig Duff, and finished with confidence.

Brad Ausden missed a fine chance to score another, after Thorne had his pocket picked, only to blaze over the top – but there was little sign of a Bridgwater comeback.

Substitute Josh White headed over from a Jake Llewellyn corner, but any lingering hopes the hosts may have had were extinguished when Painter – signed from Wellington this week – was shown a straight red for a shirt pull as the last man.

Young Patrick O'Halloran was quick to make his mark after coming off the bench, making ground down the left and picking out Taylor to head in from a couple of yards out, making it 3-1 with seven minutes left.

But as the torrential rain returned, the visitors put the cherry on top of the cake with a penalty in stoppage time after a tangle of bodies; Josh Searle thumped the spot-kick past Oliver's despairing dive.

Bridgwater Town: Steve Oliver, Dave Thorne (Charlie White 84), Kurt Robinson (c), Lee Begg, George Painter, Harry Horton, Sam Towler, Ian Bellinger (Josh White 66), Jake Brown (Patrick O'Halloran 78), Jake Llewellyn, Jack Taylor.
Sub not used: Steve Laker.

Westbury United's 4-1 win at Chipping Sodbury took them above Bridgwater to the top of the table; the Robins remain second, ahead of Willand on goal difference.

Next Saturday brings another big match for Bridgwater, at home to fourth-placed Bitton (ko 3pm).