MANAGER Trevor Senior reckons Merthyr Town are the frontrunners for the Toolstation Western League Division One crown.

Senior’s endorsement came after his side’s Bank Holiday fixture at home to near-neighbours Chard Town was postponed because of a frozen St Mary’s Field pitch.

Despite the onset of milder temperatures, the surface did not have sufficient time to thaw and the match was called off on Boxing Day.

Rather unsurprisingly, the weather put paid to the entire league programme, much to the disappointment of supporters seeking some festive football.

Third-placed Bridport are 10 points off the promotion pace, but with several games in hand, are very much in contention as the New Year is prepared to be ushered in.

And Senior is remaining optimistic about his troops’ prospects – though he readily admits newcomers Merthyr are the team to beat.

He told the Bridport News: “Looking at the fixtures I’d say that out of the top three teams, Merthyr have the easiest run-in, while ours and Oldland Abbotonians’ are pretty similar.

“Merthyr are the favourites for the title and have been since the start of the season. They came down a couple of divisions and by all accounts have a very strong squad.

“It could be between Oldland and us for the other promotion spot, although you can’t discount teams like Cadbury Heath and Gillingham Town.

“I know the Hengrove Athletic manager has said that whoever finishes above us would win the title and he may well be right.”

Much could hinge on how congested the second half of Bridport’s campaign becomes, with the hectic final two months of last season still fresh in the memory.

At this stage in 2009, the Bees had played 17 matches – two more than this term – but for the time being at least, Senior is unfazed.

The Bees’ chief said: “Everybody’s in the same boat and in all honesty, we have been one of the more fortunate sides because we’ve been quite lucky in avoiding postponements.

“Obviously we don’t want a repeat of last season but there is one less team in the division and we are out of the Les Phillips Cup, which took over a few of our Saturdays.

“We have just three midweek matches scheduled at the moment so it is manageable. The only problem will come if we have another cold snap.”

Bridport, whose clash with Chard has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 8, return to action next Monday with a trip to Dorset rivals, and fellow high-fliers, Gillingham (3pm).

Victory for the Bees at Hardings Lane would open up a five-point gap over the Gills – still with four games in hand.

Previewing that tussle, Senior added: “It will be tough and it is a big six-pointer. Gillingham have got one of the top scorers in the league in Lee Gale and some very decent players.

“It will be blood and thunder but we have got to win these types of games if we are to finish in the top two. We know that a win would give us a bit of breathing space.”

Bees (from): Filkins, A Symes, Condliffe, Lock, Hayter, J Symes, Peart, Wise, C Clarke, Dovell, Legg, Evans, Gale, Bulman.