BRIDPORT 4

Regan 4, Salter 9, 69, Symes 63

CHIPPING SODBURY TOWN 2

Dempsey 36, Box 90+2

BRIDPORT secured their second successive victory with an impressive 4-2 scoreline against Chipping Sodbury Town in their Toolstation Western League Premier Division contest at St Mary’s Field.

Adam Fricker’s men were aiming to reinforce last week’s 4-2 triumph at Hengrove and began in the best possible fashion when James Regan out the Bees ahead after four minutes.

A well-constructed move from left to right found Regan, who was invited to shoot by a back-pedalling Town defence before unfurling a rasping shot into the top corner.

Bridport had their second five minutes later when Mark Salter bagged his first goal in a month – Regan this time turning provider.

The winger whipped in a corner and Salter displayed his predatory instincts to get across his man before nodding home into the bottom corner.

Town clawed a goal back on 36 minutes when a free-kick looped into the area for Dan Dempsey to head past Billy Fleet.

Ben Morris unluckily saw a fizzing effort palmed on to the crossbar after Town’s Harvey Baker grazed the bar with a header.

Bridport continued to press after half-time and re-established their two-goal lead when Braeden Symes rocketed an unstoppable 30-yard drive into the top corner, again after Town had backed off.

However, Bridport were rocked when in-form Leighton Thomas sustained a hamstring strain.

Salter rounded off the Bees’ scoring on 69 minutes, poaching a goal from Kameron Andrews’ low cross to claim his 10th goal of the season.

Town added a consolatory second from a breakaway in injury-time, George Box beating Fleet to cap a combative display.

Speaking to Echosport, boss Adam Fricker felt it was a case of mission accomplished after picking up back-to-back wins.

He said: “I said that to the lads after the game. Two very good performances. To get eight goals, and good goals as well, was really pleasing. We’re delighted and it gets us in the top 10 with games in hand, but we’re going into two very tough games.”

Bridport travel to leaders Willand Rovers on Boxing Day (12pm) before hosting second-placed Westbury United on Saturday (3pm) and are without Thomas and Luke King, while Regan and Lee Sweet are doubts with availability.

Fricker said: “It’s going to be a tough one, we’re going into the game a little bit depleted but confident. We have to take that into it.

“The lads do step up to the plate when they play the top sides and we’ve got the top two in the next two games. It will be a great opportunity. The lads’ ability is never in doubt – we’re a match for anyone. We know against Willand we’re going to have to be at it.”

Bridport: Fleet, Regan, Sweet, Symes (Cox 86), King, McGrath, Thomas (Clark 68), Peach, Salter (Wood 73), Andrews, Morris. Subs not used: Martin, Weedon