BILDESTON Rangers have been given an extra incentive to cause a cup upset by rumours coming out of the Haughley camp.Steve May, manager of the Metaltec SIL Second Division club, said: “We have heard stories that some Haughley players are expecting to shoot up a double-figure score.

By Elvin King

BILDESTON Rangers have been given an extra incentive to cause a cup upset by rumours coming out of the Haughley camp.

Steve May, manager of the Metaltec SIL Second Division club, said: “We have heard stories that some Haughley players are expecting to shoot up a double-figure score.

“If we needed any extra incentive to show what we can do, this is it.”

Bildeston are third in the table with 24 points from 12 matches, and they have the quality to give Senior Division leaders Haughley a tough game in their third round Omnico Cup encounter tomorrow.

Last season Bildeston narrowly lost 2-1 to Framlingham Town in this competition, and they went on to reach the final of the Suffolk Primary Cup to confirm their cup pedigree.

“Tomorrow will be as tough as it gets,” added May. “On paper, Haughley have the best players in the SIL, but at our best we can give them a game.

“If Wycombe can upset Charlton in the Carling Cup then we have a chance to upset Haughley.

“There is fire in the team and talent as well. We are not going to just turn up and make up the numbers.”

Bildeston, who play Stowmarket Stag in the quarter-final of this season's Primary Cup, will be looking to benefit from playing on a good playing surface.

May, who works at the Wattisham base and originally joined the club as a player, explained: “We have been using a pitch at Hintlesham for home games because ours cuts up so much.

“But the league insisted that we move back to our ground as there is no separate changing room for referees at Hintlesham.

“We lost 6-4 at home to Hoxne on Saturday, which was not the ideal preparation with our opponents playing our pitch as it should be played. We should be able to pass the ball around at Haughley.”

Bildeston will have Nick Barraclough in goal with the teenager earning rave reviews for his performances this season, but they will be missing key defender Michael Coulson, who is away.

The Lorimer family are a big influence on the club with David a former manager and now vice-chairman and director of football. His sons, Ross and Scott, are members of the squad, while a third son David was leading scorer last season before joining the Bury St Edmunds football academy.

Senior clubs Capel Plough and East Bergholt did not complete the necessary paperwork and are excluded from this season's Omnico Cup, while Ipswich Athletic have a chance to keep their season alive and gain revenge over holders Ransomes Sports.

Jimmy Marjoram's side defeated Ransomes in this season's Suffolk Senior Cup but were removed from the competition for fielding two players who were not registered in time.

Division Four Tattingstone, St Clements and Stowmarket Stag are the lowest-placed teams still involved, with St Clements visiting senior side Crane Sports and Stag locking horns with Phil Greenhalgh's Westerfield United.

Stonham Aspal and Framlingham Town are two junior sides with senior credentials, and the winners will have an excellent chance of pitting their wits against Senior Division opposition in the next round.

MARTIN Copping and Darren Pleasance scored five goals apiece last Saturday in Stonham Aspal reserves' 14-0 victory over Thurston reserves.