BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker stressed the need for his players not to “hit the panic button” ahead of the Bees’ Toolstation Western League Premier Division clash with Hallen on Saturday (3pm).

Hallen are placed in 18th in the standings, but Fricker is wary of taking the Armadillos lightly ahead of the clash at St Mary’s Field following a 3-1 loss to Shaftesbury in the Dorset Senior Cup quarter-finals.

Fricker told the Bridport News: “I said after the game we have been in really good form, let’s not hit the panic button.

“Hallen are down there and we don’t want to be taking them for granted.

“We played them last season and again, as a lot of teams have done this season they’ve changed managers. They’ve been struggling of late but they haven’t been getting spanked.

Bridport are set to welcome back Lee Sweet, Leigh Bailey and Braeden Symes for the game, while Dorchester Town goalkeeper Chad Collins has signed on dual registration terms.

Collins’ availability boosts the Bees after Jason Hutchings was sent off against Shaftesbury in a defeat Fricker labelled as an “off day.”

He said: “I suppose if we were going to have an off day we’d rather have it in the Dorset Senior Cup.”

Fricker himself was also sent off for alleged foul and abusive language as a Jack Mitchell double and an Ashley Clarke goal saw the Rockies through, with Leighton Thomas scoring for Bridport.

Bees: Hutchings, Martin, Hill, Hayter, Latas (Peach 80), Cornish (Butcher 46), Vance, Richardson (Hebditch 65), Rutter, Salter, Thomas