Match Report by Liam Drury
Photos by Ade Threasher

The Seagulls progressed in the Somerset Premier Cup with an 8 – 0 win at The Optima Stadium against Western League Division One opponents Keynsham Town.

Making 10 changes from Saturday, including a full bench of Academy prospects, the hosts started brightly when Oli Jenkins fired over the bar from 20 yards.

Weston were to open the deadlock when Jordan Bastin made ground down the left-hand side, his low cross being flicked towards goal by the heel of Brandon Bak. Young Keynsham keeper Alex Causon got down low to prevent the effort, but Bak was quickest to the rebound, sliding home on the stretch from a difficult angle.

Captain for the night Keiran Thomas then saw a shot from 25 yards deflect off of Bak and go behind for a goal-kick, before Bak saw an effort stopped by the foot of Causon following Ben Acey’s reverse pass in behind. Thomas then saw another shot blocked, before Causon tipped aside a looping Jenkins header from Bastin’s cross.

Bak was to grab his second of the night when Acey’s reverse pass in behind again found Bak making a diagonal run similar to his chance minutes earlier, and this time he was able to finish past Causon from the edge of the area with a precise shot into the bottom corner.

Jamie Soule & Acey fired wide at the near post within the same minute, before Soule headed wide from 12 yards following Bastin’s excellent delivery. Bak then had a shot from 12 yards cleared off of the line by Levi Brown’s heel when working himself a yard of space to get a shot away.

Soule, Bailey Kempster, Bak & Acey then had multiple attempts to try and extend Weston’s lead before the half-time interval, but were unable to hit the target in and around the area.

Half-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 2 – 0 Keynsham Town

Five minutes into the second period, Soule was to get himself on the scoresheet when collecting the ball from Jenkins 25 yards from goal. Turning his man and working it onto his left foot just outside the area, Jamie calmly slotted his attempt past Causon into the bottom corner for 3-0.

Jenkins continued to be a threat going forward from midfield, his first shot from 18 yards striking the post before seeing an effort from a similar range tipped over by Causon.

The fourth goal was worked neatly by the Seagulls, Soule intercepting a pass inside the Keynsham half before charging forward. The ball broke loose for Bak inside the area, whose backheel straight into the No.10’s path allowed him to slot home for his second of the night.

Bak was to get his hat-trick 20 minutes from time when the ball landed at his feet inside the area, and with space 12 yards out to shoot, he hammered an effort into the roof of the net for his first senior hat-trick.

Soule saw an effort stopped by Causon’s feet after wriggling through, before substitute Leighton Green had an effort deflect behind for a corner before seeing Causon stop another shot with his legs when being presented the opportunity to shoot.

Goal of the night was to come with goal number six, Acey finding young Academy player Josh Oliver 30 yards out. Taking a touch to steady himself, the youngster drove an unstoppable strike into the top corner on his first-team debut.

Soule was to get his hat-trick as well, initially feeding Harvey Ayers out on the right. The young winger looked up and found Jamie’s run perfectly six yards out, who only had to sweep home on his right foot first-time to finish off a well-worked team goal.

Green was to wrap up the scoring two minutes from time, being found by Soule inside the box. Managing to get the ball onto his left foot, Green curled past Causon for his opening first-team goal.

Full-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 8 – 0 Keynsham Town (Bak 13, 24, 70, Soule 50, 61, 86, Oliver 84, Green 88)

Attendance: 228.

Weston XI: Absalom, Thomas (C) (Oliver 79), Bastin (Harding 79), Jenkins, Singfield, Kirkman (Zak Kempster HT), Acey, Kadji (Ayers HT), Bak (Green 73), Soule, Bailey Kempster.

Unused substitutes: Pashley, Pinchbeck.

MOTM: Brandon Bak. Three goals and an assist for the young Bristol City loanee, in what was a good night’s outing for a young Seagulls side.