New-look Harleston Town expected to achieve a minimum of a top-half finish on their Thurlow Nunn League return

Harleston Town’s Nicky Howell believes they have a squad more than capable of finishing in the top half of the table on their Step 6 return – with a play-off spot not thought to be out of their reach.

The club had finished second in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North back in 2018/19 but were relegated on ground-grading issues.

But after a couple of seasons in the Anglian Combination Premier Division, and the floodlights issues resolved, their record was deemed good enough to be moved back up as part of the FA’s non-league restructure.

And joint manager Howell is confident they will certainly be competitive ahead of their campaign kicking off a week later than some others tomorrow when they host fellow promoted team UEA at Wilderness Lane (3pm).

“It is tricky to predict this year as obviously there are a number of new teams in this league,” he said.

“Focusing on us we will certainly looking at the top half as a minimum really.

“Hopefully we can keep our noses around the top six in the first half of the season and see where we go from there. We are certainly not here to make up the numbers.”

Under a revamp of promotion and relegation in the pyramid one team will go up automatically in 2020/21 while those finishing in second to fifth will contest a play-off for a second Step 5 spot.

At the other end of the tables the bottom three sides will be ‘liable to relegation’, dependent on whether there are enough feeder teams to replace them.

Harleston’s recruitment has seen former Wroxham wideman Ryan Oakley join from a spell at Easton along with right-back Aiden Oliver from Aylsham and left-back Sam Last.

Former striker Lawrence Cheese has returned but is ruled out of the opening week, which continues at Debenham LC on Tuesday (7.45pm) with an ankle injury.

Locally-based released Norwich City Academy 16-year-olds Josh Durham and Tyler Nakamoto are also both set to get a chance in the upcoming season.

“They have both had lots of minutes in pre-season against men’s teams and have held their own,” said Howell of central midfielder Durham and wideman Nakamoto.

“They are both local lads which is really good as we wanted to get that through the spine of the team and get that local buzz back again.”

Max Lane has departed for Diss Town while attacking midfielder Scott Roberts has also left the club.

* Framlingham Town also kick off their First Division North campaign tomorrow, with Downham Town the visitors (3pm), ahead of Leiston Reserves, again at home, on Tuesday (7.45pm). Liam Abaraham has stated he wants his side to ‘kick on’ in 21/22.

Diss keen to make home run profitable

Diss Town head into back-to-back home games looking to build on their pleasing opening away day as their Thurlow Nunn League First Division North campaign got under way.

The Tangerines, who had recruited a whole team worth of new signings over the summer, got their 2021/22 season off to a flying start with a 4-1 win at at newly-promoted Cambridgeshire team Parson Drove on Saturday.

Spencer Cawcutt’s opener was added to by a free-kick into the bottom corner by new signing Ryan Gibbs for a 2-0 advantage going into half-time.

Fellow new signing Stephen Vennell opened his account for Diss via a header straight within the first minute of the second half before the hosts pulled a goal back.

But the three-goal advantage was restored for Michael King’s new-look side when Ivan Otono finished into an empty net to round off a pleasing opening day.

Diss will look to make it six points from six when they host Wisbech St Mary at Brewers Green Lane tomorrow (3pm).

Their opponents, who had been bottom of the table in the last two Covid-abandoned seasons, lost their opening weekend fixture 3-2 at home to Sheringham.

Diss are also at home on Tuesday when newly-promoted UEA visit, following their trip to Harleston Town tomorrow (3pm). UEA had played out a 2-2 at home to Needham Market Reserves on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Debenham LC - who recently announced Joe Baldry (Woodbridge Town Res), Alfie Norman (university, former Leiston Res) and Donel Wright (Grundisburgh) as more new signings - lost 3-0 at home to newly-promoted Huntingdon Town.

Guy Hayes’ side travel to a Norwich CBS tomorrow (3pm) who have won one and lost one of their opening fixtures.

Tuesday sees The Hornets return to their Debenham Leisure Centre base to take on newly-promoted Harleston Town (7.45pm).

In the Premier Division, Walsham-le-Willows suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Wroxham, despite Matt Collins stabbing home an early right-wing cross to have sent them into half-time with a 1-0 advantage.

Second-half goals from from Joe Keeley and Ryan Curtis had ensured The Yatchsmen, who had led the 2020/21 table with 10 straight wins, returned to Norfolk with all three points.

The Willows head to divisional rivals Swaffham Town in the Emirates FA Cup preliminary round tomorrow (3pm).

No cup replays pending for either side, after they were reinstated for this season, Walsham go to Thetford Town Tuesday (7.45pm).

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