Keeper dilemma (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Keeper dilemma

8:30am Friday 1st January 2010

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BRIDPORT boss Trevor Senior has admitted he is “in limbo” over the immediate future of Simon Evans.

The talented custodian is nearing the end of his second one-month loan spell at St Mary’s Field, which is due to expire after tomorrow’s Toolstation Western League Divis-ion One visit of Elmore (3pm).

Senior is desperate to retain the services of Evans – whose appearances have been limited because of the recent dire weather – until the end of the season.

And the Bees’ chief told the Echo: “I spoke to Ian Hutchinson on Boxing Day and he said his main concern was making sure he has two keepers at the club.

“I’m in limbo at the moment to be honest but have had a chat with Lee Cuff to see what his availability is, in case Simon has to go back to Weymouth.

“Ideally I’d like Simon to stay here for the rest of the season. He has missed so many games because of the postponements that it feels like we’ve not seen enough of him.”

On Monday Senior cast his eye over the reserves, for whom Darren Lock and Matt Moors both featured in an attempt to regain full fitness.

First-team skipper Lock came through 90 minutes unscathed while Moors impressed in his hour on the pitch. Jamie Symes, back following his switch from Dorchester Town, looked sharp and lasted the entire match.

Furthermore, Chris Senior has resumed training after recovering from a nasty gash to his right knee and could be named among the substitutes for tomorrow’s tussle.

Elmore are currently in mid-table but victory for Bridport would leapfrog them over the Eagles and help to allay any lingering fears of being dragged into a scrap in the doldrums.

However, another unpromising weather forecast, allied to an already saturated pitch, could put a dampener on the New Year festivities and result in yet another cancellation.

Senior added: “The surface is heavy and that doesn’t suit us. We played at Dorchester a couple of weeks ago on a slick pitch and we passed it around really well.

“Unfortunately our ground is right on the river and that doesn’t help but Chris Tozer (Bees’ vice-chairman) does a great job because he’s battling against that and the weather.

“The last two home games that we’ve had have been played on an energy-sapping surface. We were very lethargic and struggled in both.”

Bees (from): Simon Evans, Hill, Condliffe, C Clarke, Lock, Hayter, Jones, Wise, Watts, A Clarke, Shane Evans, Cocker, Moors, Symes, Senior

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