SHERBORNE TOWN v BRIDPORT

INFLUENTIAL midfielder Chris Luke is back in the Bridport ranks for tonight’s league game at Sherborne Town (7.45pm).

Luke was unavailable for the 3-0 defeat by Bristol Manor Farm last Saturday so his return will be a welcome boost for Bees’ boss Trevor Senior.

The Bridport chief has a number of players carrying knocks but only Gary Bulman (knee) is definitely out.

Chris Clarke (knee), Dan Wise (thigh), Jamie Filkins (ankle) and Darren Watts (foot) are all expected to feature tonight, should the Toolstation Western League Premier Division match beat the weather.

Keeper Ashley Weeks deputises for Sam Filkins again but striker Max Buckler is unavailable.

The teams have already met twice this season with Sherborne winning the league meeting at St Mary’s Field last September and the Bees gaining revenge in the Dorset Senior Cup in October.

In terms of current form, Bridport are without a win in four outings while Sherborne have won their last three in all competitions, but they haven’t played since December 14.

“They are always up for it and are a hard working side,” said Senior of Sherborne. “They’ve got a few players that can catch the eye like Marc Caines and Matt Day.

“We’re going to need to watch them but it’s a local derby and anything can happen.

“They didn’t play on Saturday and have had a lot of rain since then, so I don’t know if it will go ahead. The general feeling from people up there is that it won’t be on, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Bridport, 12th in the table before last night’s games, are 10 points better off than Sherborne, who lie in 18th.

Bees (from): Weeks, J Filkins, Senior, C Clarke, Evans, Watts, Hayter, Luke, Wise, Richardson, Dovell, Morley, Staines, Condliffe