BRIDPORT can derail Bristol Manor Farm’s renaissance under last season’s championship-winning manager Lee Lashenko when the sides meet this Saturday (3pm).

Lashenko led Bishop Sutton to the Western League Premier Division title in May and took a number of his players with him when he jumped ship in the summer.

After finishing just two places off the foot of the table last term, Farm have made an impressive start to the new campaign with 16 points from eight games so far.

Farm’s form in August earned Lashenko the manager of the month award but last Saturday his team lost for only the second time in the league this season, going down 2-0 at Larkhall Athletic.

Bridport and boss Trevor Senior will be hoping the curse of the monthly award strikes again this weekend and the Bristol ground has been a lucky one for the Bees in recent seasons.

“It’s going to be tough,” said Senior. “They’ve got a lot of Bishop Sutton players that won the league last year.

“Their manager went there in the summer and took a few of his players with him, but we’ve got wins up there in the last two years.

“We’re capable of beating them so we’ll have a go and see what happens.

“We were a bit unlucky against Odd Down but that’s the way football goes and we’ll go again on Saturday.

“After Saturday we’ve got a few games coming up against teams that are near us in the league so we’ll want to pick up some points.”

Midfielder Max Buckler and defender Shane Evans return to the squad this weekend after both missed the 2-0 defeat by Odd Down. The Bath side struck twice late on to break Bridport hearts and the resistance of man of the match Sam Filkins in the home goal.

The Bees rode their luck in the second half but were looking good for a hard-earned point when Steve Jones headed in Mike Baker’s 89th-minute corner.

Chasing an equaliser, and with Filkins in the visitors’ box attacking a corner, Bridport lost possession and Kye Simpson raced clear to rub salt into the wounds.

“They played well and created more chances than us in the second half, but we defended well and dug in against a big, strong side,” added Senior.

“You felt a goal might come, but the longer it went on, the more you thought it was going to end as a draw. The second goal was a bit of a catastrophe but we had to gamble at that point, and even from that we nearly scored.

“In terms of chances, I don’t think we did enough to win it but we were in the game and caused them a few problems in the second half.

“Sam was outstanding in goal and deservedly got man of the match, so that tells a story.”

Bees: S Filkins, J Filkins, Staines (Condliffe 65), C Clarke (Senior 71), Watts, Hayter, Luke, Wise, Richardson, Dovell, Morley. Subs not used: Cummings.