CHICKENS’ chief Steve Coward has called for his troops to break the shackles and express themselves going into their Dorset Senior League contest at Sturminster Newton United (2pm).

Smarting from back-to-back league losses, which have seen the Stalls outfit lose ground in the race for the title, the Chickerell boss is keen for his side to reproduce the clinical form they began the campaign with.

He told Echosport: “The lads are big enough characters to bounce back from it but we have got to start enjoying our football a little bit more.

“It’s as if we are under pressure all the time and the 4-0 and 5-0 wins have dried up all of a sudden. We need to address that and get that going again.

“We just need to be a bit more comfortable and not panic as if we have to win the game or that it’s do-or-die because we want to win the league.

"You have got to just play to your strengths. “We are not out of it by any means, it is up to us to win and put pressure on the rest of them.”

Elsewhere in the league, leaders Balti House travel to Dorchester Sports and Piddletrenthide Spartans host Okeford United.

Bottom club Portland United Reserves make the trip to Witchampton United (all 2pm).