BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker believes the response his side have shown in recent weeks has been “a massive credit” to his squad.

The Bees, who make the trip to Brislington in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division tonight (7.30pm), went on a 10-game losing run which lasted from the middle of December until March this season.

But, having now sealed two wins in their last four games, Fricker is looking to end the season strongly and believes his side will benefit from the experience of coming out of that torrid time.

“If you look at the 10 games on the run where we didn’t pick up any points, the lads have turned that around in the last four,” he told Echosport. “Some of them aren’t used to losing the amount of games we have lost because we were successful at Chard.

“They could have sacked it off when we were in the midst of losing 10 games and they didn’t. They kept going and that’s a massive credit to them.

“Going forward into next season and in the future for some of the careers of the younger lads, that will actually stand them in good stead and be a good experience for them.”

He added: “We want to make sure we are competitive and we don’t tail off towards the end of the season, which can happen if you have nothing to play for."

Fricker is hoping Ryan Hayter will be fit to return against Brislington and Bridport’s Alan Hill will be in the squad for the encounter. Leigh Bailey will be missing through work commitments.