BRIDPORT 4

CHIPPING SODBURY TOWN 0

A HAT-TRICK from striker Mark Salter helped Bridport finally record their first home win of the campaign.

The Bees were in fine form to see off Chipping Sodbury Town at St Mary’s Field, never looking back after racing into a three-goal lead at the break.

Boss Adam Fricker told Echosport: “It’s been long awaited to be fair and I think, sooner or later, the day we took our chances we were going to beat a team comprehensively. Saturday was definitely the day.

“It’s nice to get the first home win ticked off basically and pleasing for the guys that come and watch us week in week out.”

The first of the contest for the hosts came in rapid time.

With just four minutes on the clock, James Regan, on his home debut for Bridport, whipped in a delivery for Salter to convert from close range.

And former Somerset wicketkeeper Regan was at it again when his free-kick found fellow home debutant Oscar Latas whose header looped into the net despite the effort of visiting keeper Ben Reed.

The Bees were cruising at this point and all but killed the game off just short of the break. Regan again providing the delivery for Salter to score from close range once more.

After the interval, Ed Butcher came within inches of making it 4-0 when his effort cannoned off a post but it was not to matter as Salter completed his hat-trick with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Asked about Salter’s treble, Fricker replied: “That’s what quality strikers do.

“That’s why we tried so hard to make sure we kept him in the summer because he has 15 goals this season already.

“If he keeps going he is going to be in the 25 or 30 bracket, which, for a lad of 36 years of age, is fantastic and a massive plus for us.

“I certainly wouldn’t swap him!”

Bees: J Hutchings, Regan, Martin, Bailey, Hill (G Bulman 79), Hayter, Condliffe (B Symes 58), Peach (Haines 58), Salter, Latas, Butcher. Sub not used: D Hutchings