ROBIN Townsend says his players know what they must do at Parley on Saturday (2pm) to get back to winning ways in the Dorset Premier League.

The Bridport Reserves’ boss was frustrated at the way his side succumbed to Cranborne last time out so he is eager for a much improved performance this weekend.

Inconsistency has been the Bees’ biggest problem this season with some really good displays followed by equally bad ones.

Townsend, whose men thrashed Parley 9-2 at St Mary’s Field back in October, also knows how important discipline is to getting the right result.

“They know how poorly they played against Cranborne,” he said. “We played alright in the first half but we know we can play a lot better.

“We know we have to be a bit more disciplined and we need to retain the ball a bit better.

“Our discipline was maybe a bit of a problem last year but we have addressed it this season.

“Last year we were down the bottom of the fair play league, this season we are consistently in the top five.

“Players have taken on board what we’ve been trying to tell them and our discipline has improved 100 per cent.”

Commenting on Parley and the result of the last meeting, he added: “We probably caught them on an off day, the same as Hamworthy United.

“We’re not looking at the result, it doesn’t mean anything. We judge every game on its own merits and it’s always difficult there.

“We are very inconsistent and it depends what side turns up, but hopefully after our last performance, when we were not particularly good, we will be able to move on.

“The players know what is expected from them.

“Sean Stewart is out for four weeks with a broken wrist and obviously that’s going to be a big miss for us.

“At the moment it looks like Jack Scovell may declare himself 100 per cent fit and ready to start.

“It was good for Luke King to get 90 minutes on Saturday with the thirds.

“He is a very good player for his age and hasn’t had much football since December because of an injury.

“I thought Rhys Hayter had a good game for the third team and we could possibly give him a go.

“Darren Lock is okay for Saturday but we’re not sure for the two weeks after that.”

Bridport’s home fixture with Blandford United last Saturday fell to the weather, although Townsend felt the game could have gone ahead.

The subject of artificial pitches is a hot one at the moment given all the postponements caused by the recent heavy rain.

And while Townsend would always favour grass over a 3G surface, he can see the benefits of the synthetic option.

“I think everyone would prefer to play on grass but if that’s the way forward with the weather then I don’t see a problem with it, as long as they are good quality,” he said.

“The one at Thomas Hardye in Dorchester is superb and it probably is the way forward, but I don’t think they can replicate playing on grass.

“I’m a bit old school and I like to see matches played on grass. There is always that competitive edge when you can put tackles in.

“I know some players have got injured on 3G when their studs have got caught.”

Sadly, the forecast doesn’t look too promising for Saturday so it could be another weekend without any football for Townsend and his squad.