BRIDPORT RESERVES 4 POOLE BOROUGH 0

BEN Clarke’s hat-trick inspired the Bees to a welcome victory on the back of the previous weekend’s 6-1 thrashing at Mere Town.

Gary Bulman also got his name on the scoresheet to make it 2-0 at half-time before Clarke went on to complete his treble after the interval.

And what pleased manager Robin Townsend just as much as the four goals was a first clean sheet of the season.

“It could have been more than 4-0 but I can’t grumble too much,” he said. “Barring last week’s second half we have been playing quite well recently and I was delighted to keep a clean sheet.

“Harry Fleet was excellent in the centre of midfield and Ben Clarke took his hat-trick well, they were all good goals.

“Sam Day had a great game in defence and it looks like he could be back at his best.”

He added: “We’ve got to start being more consistent as a team and get on a run now.

“We play Swanage next and they had a cracking result against Portland a few weeks ago so it will be a tough one for us.”

Two neat finishes from Clarke and Bulman put the Bees in command at the break then the former made the three points safe shortly after the restart.

Sean Stewart had been struggling with an illness in the lead up to the match and he lasted around 55 minutes when Tristan Gale was brought on.

Chris Herbst and Adam Stordy had come back into the Bees’ squad and Herbst was also rock steady at the back alongside Day, Ashley Clarke and Luke King.

The win was wrapped up nicely when Ben Clarke got his third and Bridport’s fourth.

The Bees stay seventh in the Dorset Premier League while Poole drop to 14th, four points ahead of bottom club Holt United.

Bees: B Fleet, Herbst, A Clarke, Day, King, Stewart (Gale 55), H Fleet, C Bulman, Jones, G Bulman, B Clarke (Scovell 75). Sub not used: Stordy