LETHAL Lee Bradbury downed one of his former clubs with a lightning double strike to fire Cherries into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The 34-year-old striker, who served the Saddlers on loan in 2004, netted twice inside the opening eight minutes as Kevin Bond's charges coasted to victory against their League One rivals.

Bradbury registered Cherries' first goal at Dean Court this season when he scored with an unopposed header to open his account for the club after just 135 seconds.

And the marksman, who hit a hat-trick for former club Southend in the Carling Cup last month, took his personal tally for the season to five with a quality second goal just minutes later.

Bradbury finished with aplomb to beat Walsall's giant goalkeeper Clayton Ince with a finely-taken volley after being picked out by Max Gradel's cross.

Russ Perrett was handed his Cherries debut as boss Kevin Bond made three changes to his starting line-up following Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Port Vale.

The 34-year-old defender, fully recovered after sustaining a knee injury during pre-season, was drafted in along with Neil Young and Paul Telfer.

Ryan Garry failed a late fitness test on a groin strain, while Jason Pearce and Jean Christophe dropped down to the bench.

Cherries almost made a dream start when Jo Kuffour's drive from 20 yards flashed inches past the post following their first attack after just 20 seconds.

And the Saddlers failed to heed the early warning and went behind after just 135 seconds when Bradbury grabbed his maiden goal for Cherries.

Walsall paid dearly for only partially clearing Warren Cummings's corner, the ball headed straight to Garreth O'Connor on the edge of the box.

And after the Irishman had threaded a first-time pass to Kuffour, his inch-perfect cross from the left was headed home by an unmarked Bradbury.

Cherries quickly doubled their lead, a combination of non-existent marking and excellent finishing seeing Bradbury help himself to a second after eight minutes.

The striker again profited from some statuesque defending after Gradel's cross from the right had found him in acres of space at the far post.

But still with plenty to do, Bradbury showed superb technique to fire a low, angled volley past Saddlers goalkeeper Ince from around 10 yards.

Bradbury went close to claiming a quickfire hat-trick when Darren Anderton's piledriver brushed off him and flew the wrong side of the upright after 11 minutes.

Walsall's first shooting chance presented itself to Anthony Gerrard, but his free kick from 20 yards was charged down by the Cherries wall in the 17th minute.

But as the rampant hosts continued to make most of the running, Bradbury was again denied when Ince dived full length to his right to scoop away his blistering drive from just inside the box.

Ince also prevented Anderton from adding a third on the stroke of half-time, the big Trinidadian spreading himself to block at the near post after Bradbury had turned provider.

Anderton, who took a knock after colliding with Ince, failed to emerge for the start of the second half and was replaced by Danny Hollands. The Saddlers also made a change with Alex Nicholls coming on for the ineffective Carlos Carneiro.

Cherries maintained their high tempo into the second period and O'Connor fired straight at Ince after Kuffour and Bradbury had linked to create the opening.

Kuffour also went close with a speculative left-foot effort before Josh Gowling was forced to hurriedly clear his lines from Darren Wrack's dangerous cross.

Paul Hall gave the small army of die-hard travelling supporters something to applaud when his rasping 50th-minute drive whistled past the post.

The lively Gradel forced the overworked Ince into making another save, the winger's low shot turned around the upright after 52 minutes.

Ince also had to tip Cummings's cross-shot over the top before a Martin Butler effort briefly threatened for the visitors at the opposite end.

The Walsall goalkeeper saved his best stop until the closing minutes when he pawed away Gowling's bullet close-range header from Kuffour's centre.

Cherries (4-4-2): Begovic 7; Young 7, Gowling 7, Perrett 7, Cummings 7.5; Gradel 8, Anderton 7 (Hollands, h-t, 7), Telfer 7, O'Connor 7 (Pitman, 66); Kuffour 7.5, Bradbury 8*.

Unused subs: Pearce, Christophe, Moss (g/k).

Booked: Young.

Walsall (4-4-2): Ince; Weston, Gerrard, Roper, Boertien (McDermott, 63); Demontagnac, Fox, Wrack, Hall (Deeney, 69); Butler, Carneiro (Nicholls, h-t).

Unused subs: Dann, Bossu (g/k).

Booked: Boertien.

Referee: Roger East (Salisbury).

Attendance: 2,206.