BRIDPORT overcame a stunning start by Keynsham to secure a 5-2 victory at St Mary’s Field in their Les Phillips preliminary round fixture.

Leigh Bailey was the Bees’ star man, scoring a 13-minute hat-trick in the second half to give Bridport a large margin of victory after a superb opening to the game.

Keynsham were clearly unflustered by facing opposition one league above them and took the lead after five minutes when Stefan Lee made use of a kind ricochet to fire past Jason Hutchings.

Three minutes later, Town doubled their lead after raiding down the left and picking out right-back Tauren Williams, who blasted home when unmarshalled.

But Leighton Thomas grabbed a goal less than 60 seconds later when he headed home an Andy Martin corner.

The Bees were level on 12 minutes when another superb Martin corner this time picked out Cameron Vere, who made no mistake from close range.

Following that frantic opening, chances were at a premium until Bailey’s quick-fire treble settled the tie during the second half.

On 48 minutes, Bailey unleashed a 25-yard piledriver to make it 3-2, before capitalising on a defensive error to extend the Bees’ lead to 4-2 a couple of minutes later.

And he earned the match ball on 61 minutes when a poorly-hit shot from 30 yards somehow crept into the bottom corner.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, Bees’ boss Adam Fricker felt his side were “too open” defensively.

He said: “Defensively for 10 minutes we were at fault and gave them a couple of goals. We were too open. It was weird, I sat with Paddy and we said we weren’t out of this.

“An Andy Martin corner was headed in at the near post and then another was headed in at the back post. We work on set plays. Last season we didn’t score enough from them, but to be fair this season we have.

“Keynsham were absolutely massive too. They were in the land of giants, I’ve never seen such a big side, but we look for set-plays with Andy’s quality.”

Commenting on Bailey’s hat-trick, Fricker said it was completely left-footed.

“It was a left-footed hat-trick. The first was a cracking strike from 25 yards. As soon as it left his foot it was nestling in the top corner.

“The second they couldn’t clear it and he placed it in the bottom corner. The last one he didn’t hit well from 30 yards and it squeezed in the bottom corner.”

Bees: Hutchings, Andrews, Vere, Hayter, Martin (Hannam 65), Peach (Handyside 80), Thomas, Bailey, Wood (Butcher 70), Salter, Hebditch. Subs not used: Richardson

n Bridport Reserves won 3-1 away to Sherborne Town Reserves in the Dorset Premier League.

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