BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker insists there is no pressure on the Bees as they prepare to host Tiverton Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday (3pm).

The Bees reached the third qualifying round last year before losing 2-1 to St Albans City but face a tough task against a team flying high in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier South.

Fricker said: “I am really looking forward to it

“From our perspective there is no pressure on us.”

Fricker wants his side to just go out and enjoy the encounter however, and says that if they do the right thing then you never know.

Fricker said: “Obviously Tiverton are two leagues above us so we are going to have to pull off a pretty big shock to get in the hat for the next round. So if we can just go out and enjoy it, very similar to when we played St Albans last season in the FA Cup it is about literally the lads going out, enjoying it, doing the right thing and just seeing what happens.

“If you get a little bit of luck on the day, you never know.”

Fricker admits that Tiverton are the strong favourites and said that prior to their match at St Albans their run last year was mostly built off the back of beating teams in the same league as the Bees.

Fricker said: “Likewise we are well aware that Tiverton are strong favourites.

“I think we just need to be realistic that we are playing a team that are two leagues above us and have started the season well. Obviously last season apart from St Albans we were playing teams that were in the same league as us or Barnstaple who at the time were struggling in the Southern League. It is going to be a completely a different game from the run we had last season other than St Albans.”

Fricker also emphasised that it is a challenge for the players to prove they can match it with the teams above.

Fricker said: “Likewise it is an opportunity for some of the lads to put themselves in the shop window and show that they can match it with the likes of Tiverton.”

Bridport themselves are in fine form so far this year, with just one loss in seven matches so far this season prior to last night’s match against Romsey Town.

Chris McGrath will be back for Bridport after missing last night’s encounter with Romsey Town, while the Bees’ dual registration duo Dorchester duo of Ben Morris and Josh Williams are unlikely to feature for the Bees.