BRIDPORT 7 TROWBRIDGE 0

SEVEN-UP Bridport signed off an encouraging pre-season campaign on Saturday with a ruthless demolition of Trowbridge Town.

In stark contrast to last year, the Bees have remained unbeaten during their six warm-up matches and will head into this weekend’s curtain-raiser full of confidence.

The rampant home side were four goals to the good by the interval at St Mary’s Field and inflicted more misery on the visitors after the break.

Striker Ryan Dovell converted two penalties, while a goal each for Jamie Symes, Russell Legg, Chris Clarke, Roger Cummings and Dan Wise completed the rout.

While Trowbridge admittedly were mediocre, Bridport’s all-round display and their predatory showing in front of goal augers well for a season for which expectations are high.

Assistant-boss Mike Savage, taking the reins from the absent Trevor Senior, said: “Even though the job was done in the first half, we still continued to play.

“I said to the guys at half-time that I was happy to keep the score at 4-0 as long as we played some good football.

“The goals were shared around and it was nice for Ryan to get a couple. I’m just looking forward to hitting the ground running against Bradford.

“We didn’t begin last season very well but hopefully we can get a good result in our first match and then move on from there.

“It all bodes well for the start of the season. The team spirit is great and in the games against Sherborne Town and Trowbridge we’ve really stepped it up.”

Bridport needed just five minutes to break through, as Symes pounced on a weak clearance by keeper George Dempsey before chipping the ball into an unguarded net.

The visitors were penalised twice in quick succession for clumsy challenges inside the penalty area, allowing Dovell to notch a rapid brace.

And when midfielder Legg slotted the ball home after exchanging passes with Dovell, who selflessly opted not to shoot, the Bees were in total command.

Trowbridge enjoyed more possession during the second half but seldom tested gloveman Sam Filkins, who has looked composed and authoritative during pre-season.

Substitute Cummings then bagged the goal of the game on 70 minutes when he stole possession before nonchalantly chipping Dempsey from some 25 yards.

But the Bees were not finished yet, as both Clarke and Wise found the target in the latter stages to round off a mightily professional performance.

Bees: Filkins, A Symes, Evans, Lock, Senior, C Clarke, Legg (Wise 46), J Symes, Dovell (Cummings 56), Moors (Peart 66), Watts.