NOTHING less than three points will be the aim for Bridport on Tuesday night when rock-bottom Barnstaple Town are the visitors to St Mary’s Field (7.45pm).
The Bees have become the draw specialists in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division with Saturday’s 1-1 result against Odd Down (Bath) making it 10 draws so far this season.
And while they have proven difficult to beat since the turn of the year – Bridport have lost once in seven league meetings since the end of December – manager Trevor Senior is keen for his team to turn those draws into wins as they bid to stave off relegation.
That has to be the case on Tuesday as they face a side with only 12 points from 27 games this term and who they beat 2-1 on the opening day of the campaign way back in August.
Barnstaple lost 1-0 to Winterbourne United last time out, their 21st defeat of the season, though they did pick up an impressive win at Radstock Town just last month.
A midweek fixture for Bridport means they are again without goalkeeper Sam Filkins because of university commitments while Dean Ritchie, who came close to getting a winner against Odd Down, is also unavailable.
For Bees boss Senior, victory against the Devon club is a must. He said: “We’ve got to make sure we get three points because that would probably condemn Barnstaple.
“The players were a bit disheartened on Saturday after we conceded late on but since the new year we have played seven games and only lost one.
“We were targeting six points from Saturday and Tuesday but we could still get four.
“Sam Filkins is unavailable so Sean Lillington comes in for him and Dean Ritchie is unavailable.
“Jamie Symes (pictured above) took a knock to his calf on Saturday and had a dead leg so he’s had to look after it but knowing him he’ll be okay for Barnstaple.”
Symes is currently on-loan from Dorchester Town and although his deal is set to run out on March 16, Senior is hopeful Bridport can extend his spell at St Mary’s Field for a few more weeks.
Bees: (from) Lillington, J Filkins, Condliffe, Stordy, C Clarke, Hayter, Luke, Wise, Dovell, Symes, B Clarke, Evans, Hailu, Richardson, Lock
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