STOWUPLAND Falcons will have their season fashioned over their next few weeks when they play three of the bottom four teams in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL.

By Elvin King

STOWUPLAND Falcons will have their season fashioned over their next few weeks when they play three of the bottom four teams in the Senior Division of the Metaltec SIL.

David Thompson's side visit East Bergholt tomorrow and then take on Achilles and Cockfield.

“If we get results in our next three matches it will take the pressure off,” said Thompson.

“After promotion last season the plan was to consolidate this term - and then look to make progress, possibly to a higher level of football.

“The club's first season in senior football has proved a big jump and we still have some work to do.”

Falcons start tomorrow's game sixth from bottom with six wins from 16 games after a hugely successful 2005/06 when they gained promotion and reached the final of the Suffolk Junior Cup at Portman Road.

Key central defenders Justin Bryant (broken leg) and Chris Jeffries (medial knee ligaments) both suffered long term injuries last spring. The former is about to return to action but the latter is still waiting an operation.

“We have had to juggle through at the back,” added former Hadleigh, Diss and Stowmarket midfielder Thompson, who at the age of 40 puts himself on the bench sometimes.

He jointly runs the side with Darren Cardy and they have added to last season's successful squad with Neil Flanagan, Chris Pickett and Shaun Fynn.

“There are a lot of clubs around our area,” said Thompson. “But we have a good bunch of players and the team spirit is such that the majority stay in our clubhouse to around 8.0pm on Saturdays after games.

“I look at my future with Stowupland as a long term one, but if I was to leave, it would not lead to an exodus of players. They have a strong commitment to the club.”

Thompson took the Falcons, who first joined the SIL in 1932, to senior football for the first time in his first season of management.

It has been a successful period and the likes of chairman Maurice Brand, secretary Alan Muskett, Chris Warner and Steve Roden also deserve credit for making the village club a force.

The season has gone reasonably well so far, and good results in their next three outings would surely cement their senior future.

Haughley can stretch their lead to five points with a win in their tricky fixture at Felixstowe United, while at the other end of the table Achilles need points at home to Ipswich Athletic having slipped into the bottom two.