East Harling looking to build upon positive first half of the campaign

Back-to-back derby victories before the Christmas break has left East Harling sitting in the ‘best position’ they have ever been in under Stacey Lawrence’s management.

Away wins at Thetford Rovers (2-0) and Attleborough Town (4-0) saw Lawrence’s charges head into the new year sitting second in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Division One table.

They are four points adrift of Aylsham at the top while third-placed Sprowston are a point behind with a game in hand.

And ahead of the team’s return to action at home against Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves tomorrow (1.30pm), things are shaping up nicely for a positive second half of the season at Church Road.

“We were excellent in those two games,” said Lawrence. “I knew they would be two very different games so we set up differently in both and luckily for me as a manager it paid off.

“We allowed Rovers to have a lot of the ball but scored at key times and against Attleborough, they are a young side so we looked to dominate a bit more.

“I said going into both of those games that it would go a long way to setting us up for the second half of the season and we’ve come out of it with six points.

“It’s put us in the best position we’ve been in since I’ve been at the club.

“We are normally a side that starts slowly and comes on in the second half of the season, so this is a nice place to be in.”

Boasting the best defensive record in the division has provided the Greens with a solid foundation so far.

They have shipped just 15 goals from their 16 fixtures, as well as having kept clean sheets in three of their last five outings.

Lawrence added: “We’re not always the biggest scorers and at times we have to make it hard for other teams to break us down.

“Every player is putting in a shift and is buying in to what we are doing.

“Our sponsors pick a man of the match each week and I don’t think anybody has won it more than twice, which shows it’s very much a team effort.

“Our goalkeeper and defence have been fantastic, but the works starts at the front – everyone is chipping in.”