Luke Matthews - out for eight weeks
Chris Park believes Bournemouth need to discover a level of consistency if they are to gain the promotion they desperately crave.
Lions finished third in Southern League Division One last season behind champions Calmore Sports and Basingstoke & North Hants.
The Chapel Gate side were fourth in 2016 and the skipper revealed his confidence that his charges could find their way back to the Southern Premier League this summer.
Bournemouth host relegated Andover in their league opener at Chapel gate.
Park said: “We are looking to get promoted and that has been the challenge for the past couple of years.
“It is frustrating but we are the first to hold our hands up. In the two seasons I have been at the club we haven’t deserved to be promoted.
“I believe we have the players and the talent there, we just have to prove it over a consistent basis.
“The past two seasons we have shot ourselves in the foot in games that were potential banana skins. Looking on paper we shouldn’t have lost. We need to be at full intensity for every game.
“It’s looking like a strong squad this year in having 15 or 16 players who are all first-team level. It’s a big season for Bournemouth and the lads can’t wait.”
Lions have suffered an early injury blow with Luke Matthews, pictured, set to be out for between eight to 10 weeks after damaging his finger during fielding practice with Exeter University.
New recruit Dan Conway is set to be available.
Park added: “With pre-season being disrupted for all clubs there will be a few strange results early in the season.
“We had one half game against Lymington where we played 35 overs. We had an interclub friendly rained off and a game against Parley rained off as well. Most of the guys have just not had a bat outside yet.”
Andover come into the league having been relegated from the top flight last season.
Bournemouth: N Park, Bridgen, Wilson, C Park, Woodruff, Denham, Hurley, Conway, Kidner, Clutterbuck, Pack. Bournemouth Echo
Lions finished third in Southern League Division One last season behind champions Calmore Sports and Basingstoke & North Hants.
The Chapel Gate side were fourth in 2016 and the skipper revealed his confidence that his charges could find their way back to the Southern Premier League this summer.
Bournemouth host relegated Andover in their league opener at Chapel gate.
Park said: “We are looking to get promoted and that has been the challenge for the past couple of years.
“It is frustrating but we are the first to hold our hands up. In the two seasons I have been at the club we haven’t deserved to be promoted.
“I believe we have the players and the talent there, we just have to prove it over a consistent basis.
“The past two seasons we have shot ourselves in the foot in games that were potential banana skins. Looking on paper we shouldn’t have lost. We need to be at full intensity for every game.
“It’s looking like a strong squad this year in having 15 or 16 players who are all first-team level. It’s a big season for Bournemouth and the lads can’t wait.”
Lions have suffered an early injury blow with Luke Matthews, pictured, set to be out for between eight to 10 weeks after damaging his finger during fielding practice with Exeter University.
New recruit Dan Conway is set to be available.
Park added: “With pre-season being disrupted for all clubs there will be a few strange results early in the season.
“We had one half game against Lymington where we played 35 overs. We had an interclub friendly rained off and a game against Parley rained off as well. Most of the guys have just not had a bat outside yet.”
Andover come into the league having been relegated from the top flight last season.
Bournemouth: N Park, Bridgen, Wilson, C Park, Woodruff, Denham, Hurley, Conway, Kidner, Clutterbuck, Pack. Bournemouth Echo
