BRIDPORT boss Edgar Marcu believes the Bees’ pre-season friendly experience with Weymouth will stand his youthful squad in good stead.

Marcu booked in the meeting with Weymouth – the clubs’ first since 2017 – knowing a chasm of four divisions separated the sides.

And, while the Terras ran out comfortable 10-0 winners, Marcu insists the Bees will grow from the 90 minutes played against a National League South side.

“It’s like going to the gym. If you work harder and harder, your muscle will grow,” he said.

“I said to the players: ‘Watch Weymouth when they play’.

“Even for me, it was something to learn as a manager. I’ve seen David (Oldfield, Weymouth boss) doing loads of things during the game.

“I’ve put that in mind and I have to grow as a manager as well.

“I’m very pleased, I’m telling you.

“If someone looked at the score, they think: ‘Oh God’, but it’s nothing like that, it’s a positive thing and we need to thank Weymouth for this opportunity, it’s massive.

“It’s just positives, you can’t take anything else home with you. I feel like a kid in a candy shop on the bench watching professionals playing.

“That’s my dream, to get into professional management.”