BRIDPORT Reserves’ boss Shaun Annetts believes beating Blandford United on Saturday (3pm) in their Dorset Premier League contest will be a “tough ask”.

Annetts’ men travel to the Royals having dumped Shaftesbury Town Reserves out of the

Dorset Premier League Cup 4-3 last Wednesday with Dan

Baggs, Ryan Leader, Riley Weedon and substitute Callan Strelley all scoring.

However, Blandford pose a different proposition having lost just one of nine league games to earn a placing of sixth in the table – nine points and seven spots above the Bees.

Speaking to the Bridport News, Annetts had no doubts regarding the scale of his side’s task.

He said: “It’s a very, very tough game. Blandford are one of the in-form teams – they’re winning and winning comfortably so we’re in for a tough afternoon.

“All we can do is do our best. There may be additions from the first team who are trying to strengthen. There may be one or two added to my squad.

“We’ll see how that goes, but whatever happens we should have a good chance. Hopefully that confidence from the Shaftesbury game will stand us in good stead.

“But we do know it’s going to be a tough ask and any result we manage to get will be fantastic.”

Bridport are set to be without top scorer Josh Hunter.

“He’s struggling with a foot injury,” Annetts said. “He didn’t play last Wednesday and he wasn’t going to be playing on Saturday.

“He needs more time to rest. I’m not sure what he’s done but it’s still very sore.

“Apart from that, I’m hoping we have a full team to pick from.

“We’ll miss him because he’s our leading scorer and a key part of the squad, but we’ll have to do without him.”