DORCHESTER Sports’ boss Ashley James is hoping for an “exciting game” when his team takes on old foes Balti Sports at Weymouth College in the Dorset Premier League tomorrow (6.30pm).

The two teams renew their rivalry after a 1-1 draw at the Avenue Stadium last year, but with both sides in indifferent form, James feels recent results are irrelevant.

He said: “Form goes out of the window. It will be another exciting game. Fingers crossed we can go down there and get the win, but it will be difficult.

“They will be 100 per cent up for it, and we will.”

Jamie Beasley, dual-registered with Hamworthy United, will return for Sports, alongside brother Richard, both having been absent when James’ men endured a chastening 2-0 loss to Shaftesbury Town Reserves at the Avenue Stadium on Saturday.

Sports failed to hit a shot on target in a game with limited chances but the clinical visitors deserved all three points and were 2-0 at half-time, scoring with both shots in the entire match.

Sports were sloppy in possession, losing the ball twice in dangerous areas, and Shaftesbury took full advantage with Archie Few and Callum Bent goals.

Commenting on the loss, James said: “We don’t want to make excuses up but we’re down to the bare bones. We’ve got some key players who are going to miss the rest of the season.

“We’ve lost Jamie Symes to a broken toe, Jason Reed to a broken foot and Dan Peart to a broken ankle. It’s taken its toll.

“Normally we’re strong going forward but I think it was the fact that we had a game on Wednesday night and a couple of the lads played for the reserves on Thursday."

Sports: Hibbs, Gatehouse, Belt, Gould, Steele, White, Samways (J Will 65), G Will (Churchill 75), Rawlings, Hewitt (Brumble 65), Turland