DORCHESTER skipper Mar-tyn Richards believes that “passion and pride” will help guide his men to their first victory of the season.

The reigning Dorset Premier League champions have suffered successive defeats in their opening two fixtures but tomorrow travel to a Blandford side also reeling from a winless start to the season (1.30pm).

The current fortunes of both teams are a stark contrast to last year when Blandford finished second behind the county town outfit.

But something has to give in tomorrow’s clash. Richards, whose side lost at home to Poole Town six days ago, said: “We have got to pull something out of the bag if we want to win at Blandford.

“It sounds like they lost a close game against Weymouth last Saturday and it appears that they’ve lost one or two players from last year, like us.

“It’s rather ironic that last year’s top two have got off to the worst possible start this season but they’ll want to change that as much as we do. We’ll do everything we can to make sure it is us who get off the mark.

“It’s probably only going to take one good knock or one good spell of bowling to get us back on track.

“We’re hoping to put in a display more characteristic of last season when there was plenty of passion and pride on show.”

Richards will make one enforced change for tomorrow’s trip with Dave Maslen coming in for the unavailable Adam Rendell.

The captain said: “Dave Maslen is available again this week so he’ll come in for Adam Rendell who is unfortunately unavailable. This will also be the last game we play without Rob Waite so we will welcome him back next week.

“I’m happy with the squad we’ve got, we just need one or two to step up to the plate.”

Dorchester: Richards, Gerety, Haynes, Tweddle, Belt, Maslen, Sibley, Miller, Herbert, Morley, Dunham.

n Dorchester Seconds welcome Sherborne to the Rec tomorrow (1.30pm) for a Division One encounter while the county town’s third team visit Bridport Seconds for a Division Seven derby (2pm).

Dorchester II: Voss, Haynes, Joslin, Power, Beasley, Peke, Stripp, Floyd, Campbell, Godfrey, Chalmers.