BRIDPORT manager Adam Fricker was happy with the run-out his team got at St Mary’s Field against Portland United on Tuesday night.

That was despite his players being “a bit sluggish and stiff” during their latest friendly against Simon Browne’s Blues.

Portland were 3-1 victors on the night, with goals from Dorchester trialist Leighton Thomas, Alex Halloran and Josh Camp, while Bridport’s Cameron Vere also got on the scoresheet.

But Fricker said the fixture was “really beneficial” for his team against a “very strong” Portland.

“We didn’t start too great, we were a little bit sluggish and stiff from Saturday. Portland brought a very strong side down and started very brightly.

“It was what pre-season is all about, playing teams that set up differently. For us, it’s really beneficial and match fitness is getting there.

“We’re where we expected to be after a couple of weeks. We’re trying to encourage them to play football, we want to play an attacking style and get that ball down and move it as quick as we can,” he said.

With a home game against Weymouth Reserves on Saturday (3pm) next for Fricker’s men, the Bees boss is looking forward to having a near full-strength squad to assess.

“It’s shaping up quite nicely. Saturday will be the first time that we should more or less have everyone available.

“We don’t feel that we’re the finished article just yet, but we do feel that we need that little bit of depth of quality which we are pushing forward with,” he said.