BRIDPORT 4

Butcher 29, 77, 84, Clark 60

SHEPTON MALLET 0

ED BUTCHER fired in three and Sam Clark scored after being on the pitch less than a minute, as Bridport cruised to a 4-0 win over Shepton Mallet in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

Bridport were dominant from start to finish and could have had more than the impressive four goals they finished with.

The Bees were also able to see the return of Dec Cornish from a broken arm, replacing Mark Salter after 79 minutes.

The hosts almost had the perfect start to the match when a poor clearance from Shepton goalkeeper Cameron Pike only found its way to Mark Salter, who lofted his shot wide.

Conrad Peck had Shepton’s best chance not long after however, as he forced Bridport goalkeeper Jason Hutchings into a low save to his right.

It was one-way traffic for Bridport thereafter.

Leighton Thomas got down the right and crossed a ball in for Butcher, who met it with a diving header only to be denied by Pike.

But Butcher opened his tally from close range after 29 minutes.

Ben Morris fired wide after good work from Kameron Andrews but the Bees saw further efforts on goal denied for the rest of the half.

Clark doubled the tally less than a minute after coming onto the pitch with a stunning 35-yard strike to net the Bees’ second in the 60th minute.

A further strike in the 77th minute from Butcher killed the tie, while the gloss was firmly put on the result with a wonderful 25-yard free-kick from Butcher.

Bridport boss Adam Fricker hailed the performance, saying that it had been coming.

Fricker said: “It was a great performance from the lads, it really was.

“It has been coming and we have been saying this for quite a while, the performances have been there, we just have not been taking our chances.

“We put in a really good display and I want to see that from now until the end of the season.”

Discussing Butcher, Fricker added: “I think he will take a lot of the plaudits for his hat-trick but it was a great all round display to be fair.

“Mark getting three assists as well, the defence stayed nice and solid.”

Bridport travel to Westbury United on Saturday (3pm).

Bridport: Hutchings, Condliffe, Cox, Peach, King, Martin, Thomas (Clark 59), Andrews, Salter (Cornish 79), Butcher, Morris. Sub not used: Williams

Shepton Mallet: Pike, Bryant, Padfield, Billing, Goodall, Hill, Peck, Fry, Pollard, Allen, Morgan

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