Stacey Lawrence on his East Harling side facing trips to Scole United and Long Stratton in the Anglian Combination Premier Division over this Easter weekend

East Harling manager Stacey Lawrence admits his squad is going to be ‘tested to the maximum’ with two derbies away from home over the Easter weekend.

After Saturday’s trip to Mattishall was called off due to a failed pitch inspection, the Greens began a busy April run-in with a 5-1 victory at UEA on Tuesday night.

It was a win which moved Harling up to third place in the Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Premier Division, climbing above Scole United, who Lawrence’s side visit tomorrow (2.30pm), before travelling to Long Stratton on Monday (12pm).

“They’re two big games for us,” the Harling boss said. “We haven’t played Stratton yet, but we’ve played Scole quite early in the season.

“It was a 0-0 and they were probably the better side in that. It was a tough game and it’s a local derby for us now, as it’s one of the closest sides to us in the division.

“They’ve had a couple of defeats lately, but before that they had won seven straight games, so I’ve got no doubt it’s going to be a hard game.

“The squad will certainly be tested to the maximum with two games in less than 48 hours.

“It’s something that for an Anglian Combination side you’re not really used to.

“You go through the whole season playing Saturday to Saturday, but we hit this stage of the season and it seems like we’re now going to have a game every three days at the moment.”

Jordan Scent (two), Ian Fancett (two) and Asa McGeachy were on target in Tuesday’s win at UEA, in what was the first of at least eight Premier Division fixtures in April for the Greens.

"It was a good performance," Lawrence reflected. "We were excellent in the first 25 minutes and then we had a quiet spell when they came on top of us a little bit at the end of the first half.

"But in the second half there was a 15 minute spell that was probably the best we've been this season.

"It was a nice, big pitch which suited us and once we got the third goal which made it 3-1 it could have quite easily been seven or eight if I'm honest.

"There was some poor finishing and a bit of indecision here and there, but certainly the last few weeks, after a sloppy patch where we lost two or three games, we're now unbeaten in three and things are looking up.

"It does look like Dussindale will be champions, but we're fighting it out with three or four teams for that sort of top three finish, and for a newly-promoted side that would be incredible.

"It certainly would have shocked me at the start of the season if someone had offered that.

"We've got a cup final to look forward to and the reserve team are flying high and looking at back-to-back promotions, so it's a great time for the club."

Meanwhile, Long Stratton missed out on a place in the Mummery Cup final against East Harling after losing 2-0 to Wroxham Reserves in their rearranged semi-final on Saturday.

Aaron Roe opened the scoring for the visitors, who are second in the Premier Division, after 19 minutes, with substitute Alex Balding doubling their lead four minutes into the second half.

Wroxham will face Harling in the final, on the 3G at The FDC, in Norwich, on Wednesday, May 10 (7.30pm).

Stratton (11th) will have a chance to avenge that semi-final defeat when they visit Wroxham in the league tomorrow (2.30pm).