BRIDPORT 1

MELKSHAM TOWN 1

TREVOR Senior has called for a change of approach as Bridport look to arrest their slump in the Toolstation Western Premier Division.

The Bees have won just one of their last 11 in the league and their concerned boss is determined to turn the tide one way or another.

Senior, whose side currently lie fourth-bottom, just two points above the bottom two, said: “We got off that 16-point mark at the weekend, which was a relief because it seems like we have been on that for a year, and there were a lot of positives we could take from the performance.

“We are at a stage now, particularly in the heavier conditions, where we need to start grinding out results rather than looking to play pretty football, and hopefully we can start doing that over the next few weeks.”

The Bees ended up drawing 1-1 with Melksham Town at St Mary’s Field last Saturday after a late penalty stopped them from picking up all three points.

Senior added: “I asked the lads to be more positive before the game and after just five minutes we got ourselves in front when Dan Wise teed up Chris Luke, who fired the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box.

“It was the perfect start but they were quite bright and at half-time we were happy to come in 1-0 up.

“They then came at us again in the second half but we almost doubled the lead when Ryan Dovell put in Russell Legg, whose shot was blocked on the line.

“Had that gone in I think it would have killed them off but five minutes from time our keeper Sam Filkins came out and brought one of their lads down.

“He said he got a hand to the ball but after taking some time over it the officials awarded a penalty. From where I was it did look like one and to be fair to Melksham, they tucked it away.

“Overall we were disappointed that we did not win but a couple of weeks ago that was probably a game we would have lost.”

Senior also went on to praise groundsman Sean Coombs for getting the game on.

He added: “At one stage last week the game looked in huge doubt but the pitch held up well and huge credit has to go to Sean and all the volunteers that came down and forked the pitch to make sure it went ahead – they did a fantastic job.”

Next up for the Bees, who lost 4-1 at Poole Town last night in the quarter-finals of the Dorset Senior Cup, is a trip to Willand Rovers on Saturday.

Ryan Dovell scored Bridport’s consolation at Tatnam.

Bees: S Filkins, J Filkins, Condliffe, M Buckler, C Clarke, Hayter, Luke, Wise, Dovell, Ritchie, Legg. Subs not used: Evans, A Clarke, Richardson.

Man of the Match: Chris Clarke.

Attendance: 75