BRIDPORT RES 4 PIDDLETRENTHIDE SPARTANS 3

A BEN Clarke hat-trick propelled Bridport Reserves into the quarter-finals of the Dorset Senior Trophy at the expense of Piddletrenthide Spartans.

Dorset Senior League side Spartans fell behind five minutes in when Clarke was on hand to steer home after the visiting defence failed to clear their lines.

It looked like it could be a long afternoon for the away side and the Bees might have been out of sight by half-time.

A corner hit the post, Carl Lewis made a last-ditch clearance and Kevin Seal threw himself in front of a strike as the Spartans just about held on.

But having got a foothold in the game, the Spartans started to create their own chances.

And after Jay Samways had seen an effort fielded well by keeper Jamie Fry, Neil Kellaway cut in from the wing and steered a shot home with real aplomb.

The Spartans weren’t on level terms for long. A free-kick decision went Bridport's way and Dan Baggs climbed highest to head in.

Just three minutes later, Tristan Gale beat Aarron Williams for pace and pulled the ball back for Clarke to make it 3-1.

Having changed their shape at the break, the Spartans looked to contain their Dorset Premier League opponents in the early stages of the second half.

That plan went up in smoke when Clarke completed his hat-trick with an easy finish.

Pushing an extra body forward, the Spartans decided to go for broke and substitute Kieron Howes saw a shot well saved by Fry, before a header from a free-kick was pushed away by the Bees’ keeper.

Kellaway was now a central figure for the visitors and when he weaved his way through there was only one outcome as the net bulged for 4-2.

The visitors continued to attack and Marcus Simpson’s sublime strike set up a grandstand finish.

Bridport had to rely on counter-attacks from Rhys Hayter and Gale as the Spartans took the game to them.

Owen Kirlew and Paul Hill threatened out wide and with 10 minutes to go Howes and Kellaway combined only for Fry to get a foot to the former’s attempt on goal.

A flick from Kirlew was then cleared off the line by Roger Cummings.

Howes, Samways, Kellaway and Hill all combined brilliantly to tee up Seal whose cross found Dave Washington 10 yards out, but his effort sailed over.

Bridport will host Lytchett Red Triangle in the last eight on Saturday, December 20.

Bees: Fry, Baggs, Herbst, Hayter (Fouracre), Stordy (Day), Hill, Peart (Cummings), Fleet, Clarke, Scovell, Gale.

Spartans: Barton, Hill, Seal, Washington, Lewis, Williams, Dunne (Howes), McDonald (Kirlew), Simpson (C Kellaway), N Kellaway, Samways.

Dorset Cleaning Services Man of the Match: Neil Kellaway