MIKE Savage has bemoaned Bridport’s less than ideal preparation for Saturday’s away game at promotion-chasing Bitton (3pm).

The Bees’ last two Toolstation Wes-tern Premier Division fixtures have been postponed, leaving the side lacking important game time since a defeat to Melksham almost a fortnight ago.

Boss Trevor Senior and assistant Savage were hoping yesterday’s visit of Gillingham Town to St Mary’s Field would have given their troops the opportunity to find some form.

But that went the same way as the encounter with bottom-of-the-table Barnstaple, which was rained off four days previously.

“We haven’t really played or trained much of late so it’s not been ideal preparation for when we go to Bitton on Saturday,” said Savage.

“You need to get a good few games under your belt before you take on a side like Bitton. It would have been good to have played someone like Barnstaple but that wasn’t to be.

“We gave Bitton a good game earlier in the season but they gave us a hiding at their place last season and it will be tough again on Saturday.

“We’ve got to go there with the right attitude and hopefully a positive result can turn things around for us and we can kick on in the new year.”

Two off last place, Bridport will need striker Ryan Dovell to be firing on all cylinders after he missed the trip to Melksham.

Bees (from): S Filkins, Hayter, C Clarke, J Filkins, S Buckler, M Buckler, Evans, Wise, Luke, Legg, Condliffe, Ritchie, Dovell, B Clarke, Hailu.