TREVOR Senior will go into the second half of Bridport’s league and cup double-header with Winterbourne United without two of the players he believes have stood out all season.

Defender Chris Clarke and utility man Matt Condliffe will both miss the second clash in a week with United at St Mary’s Field on Saturday (3pm), due to unavailability and suspension.

But that did not stop Senior heaping praise on the duo, who he believes have been vital to his side since the summer with their reliability. Commenting on the duo, Senior said: “The two of them have probably been our most consistent players right the way through pre-season.

“Chris would be the first to admit that he is not the most skilful of players but he is consistent and will give you a performance every week and is one you can rely on.

“The heavier the pitch is the better he is for us really because he just ploughs his way through it, but he is in the Navy so he is going to be unavailable for at least two weeks through work commitments.

On Condliffe, the Bees’ boss added: “From a manager’s point of view he is a luxury really, he can play in any wide position, is decent with both feet, and can operate as a wing-back. He can even do a job up front.

“Over the last 18 months he has been moved from left to right and he just fills in and gets on with it, but this season he has been in more of a regular place at right-back and it has made a lot of difference.

“Personally I think he is back to the Matty Condliffe of about two years ago who was really consistent and playing in a regular position.”

Both Condliffe and Clarke started in Bridport’s 2-0 win at Winterbourne last Saturday, where a Dan Wise spot-kick and Matt Morley’s strike sealed three points for the visitors.

But Senior is not taking the Bristol-based outfit lightly at home this time around, and is looking to go all the way in the Les Phillips Cup this term, which the sides will battle in this weekend.

Commenting on Winterbourne, he added: “I don’t think they performed that well last week and I’m sure they will be better this week so we have to be on our guard.

“We will go into it with a lot of confidence but not over confidence. Having won it twice before, for me it is a cup I would like to get to the final of.”

Chris Senior is set to return to the squad this weekend.

Bees (from): Weeks, C Senior, Evans, Stewart, Ry Hayter, Filkins, Richardson, Wise, A Symes, Byerley, Morley, Dovell, J Symes