DORCHESTER Sports’ manager Ashley James says only hard work will lift his stuttering side back into form in the Dorset Premier League.

Sports travel to Shaftesbury Town Reserves tomorrow (3pm) fresh off the back of a 4-0 home loss to Blandford United, their third defeat in four games.

They face a buoyant Rockies team after their 3-0 win over in-form Balti Sports on Tuesday and James believes his players must put in the graft to turn results around.

He told Echosport: “We don’t know what team they put out against Balti, I’d imagine they’ve brought in a few players.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports 0-4 Blandford United - report

“You never really know what you’re going to come up against, so we’re expecting another really tough away game.

“The only way we’re going to get out of this little bad patch is to roll our sleeves up, work hard and stick together.

“I’m sure the lads will do that. We’ve got to show a lot of character and hopefully get a positive result.”

Nick Hutchings, Josh Pratt and Darren Watts return but Kriss Radivojsa is out for the season after flying out to Australia.

James feels the central defender, who can also play up front, will be a big miss.

He added: “Kriss came in and settled our defence really well when Shaun Bessant left and now we’re going to have to find someone else to come in.

“That takes time. It took a bit of time last season when Kriss did really well for us.

“We’re going to have to find that again and at the moment we haven’t.”