STOWMARKET Town chairman Andy Horrex today confirmed his confidence in his team moving up the Ridgeons League ladder.They go into tomorrow's home encounter with Cornard United as the lowest-placed east Suffolk side.

By Elvin King

STOWMARKET Town chairman Andy Horrex today confirmed his confidence in his team moving up the Ridgeons League ladder.

They go into tomorrow's home encounter with Cornard United as the lowest-placed east Suffolk side.

This is their second season in Division One, having previously been permanent members of the top flight of East Anglian football.

They were on a par with the best in the region in their glory days at the Cricket Meadow, and then maintained their Premier Division status through a number of managers after moving to their current Greens Meadow site.

“We may be sixth from bottom of the First Division, but it is a false position bearing in mind the number of injuries we have suffered,” said club stalwart Horrex.

“Manager Dave Hubbick has been unable to select his strongest side, and I am sure when he does we will move up the table.

“I am very confident in the ability of the management and the team.

“Naturally we want to return to the top flight, but there will be no pressure put on.

“And yes, we would like to be higher but it not concerning me because of the players we have had out.

“We have also played less games than most clubs and met some of the top sides.”

Stowmarket, who finished seventh from bottom last season, have won two league games this term - against lowly Godmanchester and Yarmouth.

They have experienced striker Tony Cracknell available for selection tomorrow after he sat out an eight-week suspension, but the list of players unavailable to Hubbick and his assistant Trevor Elmy is still long.

Warren Taylor-Holt starts a ban, while Austen King (broken leg), Jamie Carr and Chris Wright (both with broken feet), Gavin Jennings (knee) and Chris Leys (groin) are out with long-term injuries.

“And we lost striker Danny Smy to Ipswich Wanderers just before the season began, with James Long deciding to drop down to the Metaltec SIL,” added Horrex.

“The one big plus we have is the entry of a team into Ridgeons League Under-18 Youth League.

“This was on the recommendation of Dave Hubbick, and already Chris Gray and Adam Horner have progressed into our first team while other youngsters have been in the squad.”

Second-placed Walsham-le-Willows visit Tiptree, third in the table Debenham Leisure Centre entertain Long Melford, fourth-placed Hadleigh are at home to FA Cup heroes Haverhill while Whitton (ninth) travel to Gorleston.

In the Premier Division, Ipswich Wanderers are at home to Diss Town, who are now managed by Richard Carter, the man who provided the wherewithal for Haverhill Rovers' run in the FA Cup.

This is Carter's fourth club in two years, having left the manager's post at Haverhill a month ago.

Woodbridge Town entertain Soham with Needham Market at Norwich United and Jason Dozzell's Leiston are at rejuvenated Clacton Town.