THREE goals in the first five minutes effectively decided the result of this Les Phillips Cup tie in a one-sided match where Minehead were always second best.

Just 20 seconds after the kick-off a poor attempted clearance by Lee Nunn enabled Danny Mira to open the scoring for the home side with a well-placed low shot.

Within three minutes Bridgwater had increased their lead when top-scorer Matt Francis turned cleverly on the ball inside the penalty box to send a low drive just inside the upright.

And with less than five minutes on the clock, the score became 3-0 when another well placed low shot, this time by Chris Young, gave keeper Ryan Lobb no chance.

Bridgwater were now well on their way to a trip to Welton Rovers on Saturday to play in the next round.

Reeling from this early pounding, Minehead desperately tried to tighten their completely disorganised defence but it wasn't until the 20th minute that they threatened the home defence.

After good work by Gareth Morgan — who has once more rejoined the Blues — Lee Todd shot wide.

Almost immediately the home side increased their lead to four goals when, following a poor kick by Lobb and a mistake by Gary Bennett, John Spence netted with comparative ease.

Home keeper Kevin Hurd was called into action for the first time when he raced out to smother the ball at the feet of Robbie Hopkins and just before half-time Jon Bowering and Chris Young both went close to increasing Bridgwater's impressive lead.

After the interval Julian Stearnes saw his shot hit an upright for the home side, but then Minehead were presented with an excellent opportunity to open their account when Todd was fouled in the box but Morgan's weak spot-kick was easily saved by Hurd.

Lobb then went full-length to save from May before Francis made it 5-0 when he rounded the keeper to put the ball into an empty net.

In the 68th minute Bridgwater made it 6-0 when Francis completed his hat-trick, and they should have increased this lead but both Francis and Mira shot wide when they should have scored.

Despite bringing on all three substitutes, Minehead continued to struggle and near the end it required a great save by the overworked Lobb to deny the home side another goal.

This was the third time Bridgwater have beaten Minehead this season, and in the two games at Fairfax Park their leading scorer Matt Francis has scored no less than eight goals.

Minehead: R Lobb, T Hills, L Nunn, M Heywood, G Bennett, A Giblett, D Burr, S Perkins, G Morgan, R Hopkins, L Todd, subs C Carr, T Fielder, W Giblett.