Hutch: It's time to blossom
By Adam Summers

Tuesday 20th July 2010

IAN Hutchinson is tipping the club’s batch of homegrown talent to blossom following their willingness to break out of the "comfort zone".

Players like ex-Portland United duo Lewis Whyton and Alex Halloran have shone at step seven of the non-League pyramid over the last few years but the Terras’ boss is adamant the time has come for them to climb a few rungs of the ladder and realise their full potential.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s pre-season friendly at his old club Bridport (7.45pm), Hutchinson said: “The attitude of the local lads like Lewis, Alex and Richard Marshallsay have been fantastic and that is what has impressed me more than anything. A lot of that is down to Brendon King, Mark Carter and Dave Kiteley as well.

“A lot of the local lads have been in the comfort zone for too long and now is the time to give it a good go. They won’t ever have a better chance to do that than now and so far I have been pleased with the hard work they have all been putting in.

“I am not saying they are going to walk into the first team but if they continue to show the same commitment and willingness to test themselves then opportunities will be there for them.”

Sam Clarke, Scott Dixon and Sam Charles also fall into that bracket as Hutchinson continues to try and mould a squad on a tight budget for the club’s forthcoming campaign in the Zamaretto Premier Division, which they will start on minus 10 points.

Hutchinson added: “We are working overtime at the moment to try and bring in more faces, and we are hoping to be in a position to look at one of those tonight but there is no point in naming names until we know he is definitely going to be there.

“I was very pleased with our performance in the 2-0 defeat against Crawley Town on Saturday but we are still lacking that little bit of quality in certain areas.

“All the lads are working hard and showing their worth but we also need to bring in a couple more experienced heads to blend in around them.”

Unfortunately Hutchinson was dealt a blow yesterday with the news that Ben Gerring has been offered a trial at Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Forest Green Rovers.

The centre-back was impressive against Crawley and this latest development comes just a week after another trialist, Ugo Udoji, left the Terras to train with Torquay United.

Hutchinson, who is hoping to be able to offer non-contract terms to several players later this week, said: “All of the lads are understandably keeping their options open and with regards Ben we would like to see him down at Weymouth. However, he wants to play as high as he can so we will just have to wait and see.”

Meanwhile, Bridport fans should get their first glimpse of new signing Ryan Dovell, who scored his maiden goal for the club in the 4-1 defeat of Westland Sports on Friday night.

Trevor Senior is confident Dovell will overcome a slight thigh strain, and the Bees’ chief is also set to cast his eye over goalkeeper Sam Filkins, a product of Dorchester Under-18s.

Senior said: “Sam and Lee Cuff will play 45 minutes each and Sam will probably get 90 minutes against Shaftesbury on Saturday.

“The game will be a good test for us. I want to give as many of the guys who played on Friday more time on the pitch.

“Ryan suffered a slight injury to his thigh against Westland and I took him off as a precaution, but hopefully he should be okay."

Skipper Darren Lock and midfielder Dan Wise, who were both unavailable for the Westland friendly, return to bolster the squad.

Bees (from): Cuff, Filkins, A Symes, Condliffe, Senior, Lock, Hayter, Cummings, Legg, J Symes, Wise, Watts, Dovell, C Clarke, M Bulman, Jones.

Terras (from): Manley, Oldring, Radcliffe, Clarke, MacGookin, Dixon, Hubbard, Emati-Emati, Kemble, Halloran, Whyton, Charles, Reiffer, Marshallsay, Ironside, Weeks, Welch, Tribe.