BRIDPORT are without first-choice keeper Sam Filkins for tonight’s Toolstation Western Premier Division clash at Odd Down in Bath (7.45pm).

The shot-stopper is unavailable due to university commitments in Gloucester so Bees’ boss Trevor Senior is likely to start with Shaun Lillington, who has been signed on dual registration forms with Wareham Rangers.

Russell Legg misses out through suspension as he serves the second of a two-game ban but there is a possibility that Tom Richardson, out for several months after being struck down with a virus, could be back.

However, Dean Ritchie is also unavailable because of commitments with work.

On-loan midfielder Jamie Symes had to have ice on an ankle following a challenge during the 1-1 draw with Radstock Town last Saturday but he will be fit as Bridport target a win which could see them climb out of the relegation zone.

Their opponents beat Street 2-0 at the weekend and currently sit seventh in the table chasing a third win on the bounce.

The two teams have yet to meet this season and Senior knows it will be another difficult test on the road.

“It was important we got something from Saturday’s game but we’re still nowhere near safe,” he told Echosport. “We’ve got some tough games coming up and we don’t want to get beaten by the teams around us.

“It will be another tough one tonight but we need to try and grind out some results away from home.

“Odd Down always used to be a team you could look at getting points from but they have strengthened and their manager has got a good squad of players and they are usually a top-six side.

“But if we play like we did against Radstock we’ll be fine.”

Saturday saw Symes make his first appearance for Bridport in not far off two years after returning to the club on a five-week loan deal from Dorchester.

And Senior was thrilled to see the playmaker back in Bridport colours, adding: “It was great to see him in a Bees shirt again and he enjoyed it.

“He needed some game time because he’s not played too much while he has been at Dorchester.

“He was involved in a couple of good things for us and should have been given a penalty.

“Jamie got a crunching tackle in the first half but played nearly the whole game which shows what kind of player he is.”

Bees: (from) Lillington, J Filkins, Condliffe, Evans, C Clarke, Hayter, Luke, Wise, Dovell, Symes, Hailu, B Clarke, S Buckler, Richardson.