BOSS Trevor Senior believes Dan Wise’s current form can help fire the Bees up the Toolstation Western Premier Division table.
The talented playmaker produced a man-of-the-match display in last Saturday’s victory over Street and scored two goals in Tuesday’s Dorset Senior Cup win against Shaftesbury.
And his manager is now hoping for more of the same over the next 11 days when Bridport will look to pick up much-needed points in three successive home games.
Barnstaple Town visit St Mary’s Field tomorrow (3pm) followed by Ilfracombe Town (October 15) and Bishop Sutton (October 18) in what could prove to be a crucial period as the Bees look to clamber away from the relegation zone.
Senior said: “Over the last few years Dan has always got the most assists or been our top scorer, so there is no doubt he is a very important player for us.
“However, over the last few games we have been getting him to work harder on his tracking back and marking, and against Street he was outstanding.
“We actually gave him a free role in that game and told him to go out and express himself and make things happen, which is exactly what he did, but what impressed me even more was his overall work-rate.
“He did more tracking back and defending than ever before and he was without doubt our man of the match in what was a great team display.
“He looked really hungry and if we can continue to get the best out of him like that it is going to be a huge positive as we look to try and start climbing the table.”
Bridport, who currently sit third-bottom with just six points from six games, made it three wins on the spin in all competitions by beating Dorset Premier League side Shaftesbury 4-0 in the first round of the Dorset Senior Cup on Tuesday night.
And with Barnstaple just one point above them in the table, they will no doubt go into this weekend’s fixture brimming with confidence.
Senior added: “I know their manager Owen Pickard, who used to play for Dorchester Town, but I don’t know much about their team.
“But looking at our league positions, it’s one we are looking to get maximum points from, as it would take us above them.
“Nothing will be easy but confidence is high after the last three games.”
Russell Legg (one game) and Sam Charles (three games) are both suspended and Darren Lock is unavailable.
However, Matt Condliffe, Tom Richardson and Chris Clarke are expected to return to the starting XI.
Bees (from): Filkins, Cleal, Symes, Condliffe, C Clarke, Evans, Senior, Hayter, J Charles, Wise, Watts, Richardson, Jones, Cummings, Steele.
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