LOCAL SOCCER: Leiston manager Steve Wright still feels his side has a chance of promotion from the First Division of the Jewson League.They may be down in 11th place, but Wright feels they can make up the nine points between themselves and joint leaders Cambridge City Reserves and Swaffham Town.

By Elvin King

LOCAL SOCCER

LEISTON manager Steve Wright still feels his side has a chance of promotion from the First Division of the Jewson League.

They may be down in 11th place, but Wright feels they can make up the nine points between themselves and joint leaders Cambridge City Reserves and Swaffham Town.

Leiston play Cambridge at home tomorrow. "It is anybody's league," said Wright today.

"We let in 19 goals from four games before I took over from Dale Threadkell. We have tightened up at the back now and are certainly not out of the promotion race if we can get a run going.

"Everyone at the club is hungry, and if Ivan Fryer had been an inch lower in the final seconds of

normal time against holders Kirkley in the Suffolk Senior Cup last Saturday we would now be in the quarter-finals.

"His shot hit the underside of the bar and came down to a defender – when we had two waiting to pounce in the six-yard box."

Having previously managed junior club Benhall, this is Wright's first experience of taking charge of a senior team. "I am loving it," he said.

The man, who led Sizewell Sports to glory at Wembley Stadium in the Carlsberg Pub Cup, praised new goalkeeper Matt Fenn. "The ball sticks to his gloves. He has made a vast difference.

"And Lee Newson may be in his mid-thirties but he has been superb at the back. He plays with the passion of a man who is Leiston through and through."

Richard Shemmings, signed from Metaltec SIL Third Division Dennington after a 'trial' game against Southwold where he scored four goals and made two others, is working tomorrow.

But after scoring in a midweek Millennium Trophy victory he will be back in the team for Tuesday's league visit to Halstead. Judd Chenery is out of plaster after breaking a leg earlier in the season.

Whitton United can improve their chances of promotion with a home success over Somersham. The visitors will be boosted by their midweek Jewson League Cup win at Hadleigh United, but if Whitton show the form that saw them overcome Soham in the same competition on Wednesday they will take some holding.

Darren Holden needed the warmth of the shower before being able to put back two dislocated fingers that forced him to be substituted against Soham. The fingers are swollen and he is a doubtful starter tomorrow.

Mark Francis had a commanding game at the back for Whitton, ably assisted by experienced former front man Andy Callaghan. If Whitton win their game in hand they will be just one point behind the leaders in a very open league.

Hadleigh are involved in a local derby at Needham Market and will start favourites after an encouraging start to the season has seen them go third.

Felixstowe and Walton United ended a ten-match losing run with a home draw against Godmanchester last Saturday. Manager Paul Adams will be hoping to continue the upward trend at Halstead.

Defeat will put Felixstowe bottom of the table if Warboys win at Thetford.

In the Premier Division, fifth-placed Stowmarket visit ninth-placed Great Yarmouth, while both Ipswich Wanderers and Woodbridge Town need points in the next four weeks to enable them to relax over the festive season.

Three clubs are set to be relegated this season, and the former are currently eight points ahead of third-from-bottom Clacton and the latter seven in front.

Wanderers have played five games and Woodbridge six games more than the Essex seasiders, who knocked AFC Sudbury out of the League Cup on Tuesday.