BRIDPORT v TOTTON & ELING

BRIDPORT boss Trevor Senior is eager for his side to start hitting the ground running from the first whistle, beginning with tomorrow’s clash against Totton & Eling (3pm).

The Bees take on the Wessex League Premier strugglers at St Mary’s Field in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase, less than a month after they were beaten on home turf in the FA Cup.

Highworth Town got the better of them on that day and Senior reckons that if the Bees can’t clear the first hurdle in the Vase they will only have themselves to blame.

Bridport put five past Bishop Sutton last Saturday and are in a comfortable mid-table position in the Western Premier Division, while their opponents are bottom of their league with no wins so far this term.

The hosts should have the edge tomorrow but Senior wants his team to lose the tag of slow starters.

Looking ahead to the cup clash, he said: “We’ve scored seven and conceded six in our last two matches, and have only really played in one half of those games.

“We need to start at 3pm rather than 4pm and take the game to the opposition more rather than letting them come to us.

“If we win this one we’ll be home in the next round so we can’t ask for anything more.

“We’ll only have ourselves to blame if we slip up.”

Jamie Fry comes in to replace the unavailable Ashley Weeks between the sticks, while Matt Condliffe is also not able to play in the tie for Bridport.

“Jamie knows what it’s all about,” added Senior. “He has played for the first team a few times before.”

The winners of tomorrow’s match will pick up a cheque for £600 and host East Cowes Victoria Athletic in the second qualifying round on October 4.

Bees (from): Fry, Filkins, Clarke, Stewart, Ry Hayter, A Symes, Wise, Rh Hayter, Richardson, Morley, Dovell, Symes, Watts