BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker insists the Bees’ season will be no failure should they be knocked out of the Les Phillips Cup quarter-finals by Shepton Mallet on Saturday (3pm).

Fricker’s men have enjoyed a fine FA Cup run this season, losing in the third qualification round to National League South side St Albans City and also look set for a top-eight league finish, a vast improvement on last season’s bottom-half result.

And Fricker has the luxury of being able to name a full-strength side for the clash with Mallet, who lie two places above the Bees in seventh in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

He told the Bridport News: “We’ll certainly be putting out a full-strength squad and all our focus will be on the game.

“Our main aim this season was to improve on what we did last year and we’ve done that with ease, to be fair.

“I’d like to think we’d finish top eight. Even if we go out it’s a really successful season on and off the pitch.

“The FA Cup was great and we’ve beaten some top sides to get to where we’ve got to in both cup competitions. We’re really happy with where we’re at and the route we’re plotting.”

Having cast an eye over Mallet several times this season, Fricker expects a high-quality game with both teams deploying an attractive brand of football.

He said: “They’ve greatly improved since the start of the season. It’s a tough game but it will be a good game between two sides that do want to play football the right way.

“We just need to concentrate on what we’ve been doing all season.”