They’re leading Touchline SIL Division One by nine points with five games to go, but Framlingham Town’s return to the Senior Division is far from a foregone conclusion.

Relegated in 2012, Framlingham’s form this season under manager Mel Aldis – they have lost one game all season – suggests they are all but back in the top-flight.

And while Aldis would be disappointed to let such a big lead slip now, he acknowledges that his side’s final five games could not be tougher, ahead of today’s game at home to third-placed Mendlesham, a team they face twice before the end of the season.

Aldis, who was player-manager of Framlingham’s Senior League-winning side of 1992, said: “I will be disappointed if we don’t get promoted now but our last five games see us play Benhall St Mary (fifth), Mendlesham twice, Coplestonians (second) and Trimley (ninth).

“We have four games against teams in the top five in the league so things could change drastically if we don’t get the results we want.

“I don’t want to tempt fate but we have not lost at home for about 18 months, and four of the five games are at home.

“The other teams have to play each other too, so they will take points off each other and realistically we need eight points to go up.

“It’s in our own hands and if I had have been offered that at the start of the season with five games to go, I would have taken it.

“The most important thing for the club though is to get back in the Senior Division, winning the title is a bonus but it would make the end-of-season presentation evening more enjoyable.”

Framlingham missed out on promotion by goal difference last season but returned determined not to suffer such agony this season and, according to Aldis, are all set to make the step up should promotion be achieved.

“We missed out on goal difference last season, we needed to score six goals in our final game and scored five,” he recalled.

“If we did go up I am pretty certain that the first season would be all about us finding our feet, but I don’t think there would be any danger of going down.

“Most of our squad is 22 and under and we regularly have two or three lads in the first team from the under-18s.

“It’s looking good for the future although we would look to add one or two experienced faces.

“Promotion is the goal and we are all set up to be a Senior Division club.

“Since relegation we have kept doing everything the right way and we have a good set-up.”