BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker feels there will be “opportunities” for his side against Bristol-based Cribbs in the Toolstation Western Premier Division on Saturday (3pm).

The Bees beat ten-man Shepton Mallet 2-1 on Wednesday night courtesy of an Ed Butcher brace to earn three points from one of their many games in hand, moving them into 12th in the league.

And Fricker told Echosport his side had to be “confident” given their present form.

He said: “We know it’s going to be a tough game, but it’s a really nice place to go. The pitch is fantastic up there.

“They’re scoring quite a lot of goals, but they’ve lost five games already. We know there’s going to be opportunities for us and we have got to be confident with the current run of form we’re in.”

Bridport will be without the suspended midfielder Braeden Symes for the trip and Leigh Bailey is a doubt with an ankle problem, while goalkeeper Jason Hutchings is unavailable.

Fricker said: “Braeden has got a one-game suspension. Leigh was doubtful for Wednesday with an ankle knock. He managed to get through the game.

“We’ll need to monitor that but we’re hopeful he will be fine. Jason is unavailable, so James Smith comes in.”

Commenting on the Bees’ defeat of the Mallet, Fricker labelled his side as “excellent” after their FA Cup endeavours.

He said: “It was a good three points. They were really well organised and difficult to break down. We did the right things and I just felt we were very professional.

“The biggest concern of mine was a hangover from the FA Cup. It was always going to be tough to get our heads straight for the league, but to be fair to them, they were excellent.

“We were patient to get the winner but throughout the whole team I thought they were excellent on the night for us.”

Fricker also gave special mention to Butcher, and admitted he is pleased with the amount of different goalscorers in the team this season.

“Ed covers a lot of work defensively for us. Last night he got the two goals but from an all-round display he was very good and did everything right.

“Last season we were heavily reliant on Ed and Mark (Salter) to get us the goals. This season we’ve got Tom Richardson, Richard Hebditch and Leighton Thomas, Leigh as well, who are wading in with goals,” he said.

Butcher’s goals came either side of an Ollie Bryant goal, before Joe Morgan was sent off for the visitors on 88 minutes.

Bees: Hutchings, James, Sweet, Hayter, Bailey, Symes, Richardson, Hebditch (Cornish 75), Thomas (Latas 80), Butcher, Salter. Subs not used: Martin, Hill, Handyside