East Harling aiming to end first half of Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Division One campaign with a positive result at Bungay Town
If they can pick up a positive result at Bungay Town tomorrow (2pm), manager Stacey Lawrence believes East Harling will head into the festive break in ‘great shape’.
It has been a largely positive first season in the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Division One for the Greens, who sit eighth after winning half of their 14 fixtures to date.
A win over Bungay will draw them level on points with their fourth-placed hosts and, depending on results elsewhere, could move Lawrence’s men as high as fifth at Christmas.
“It would be good to finish the year on a real positive,” said the boss, who saw his side beat Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves 2-1 last time out, thanks to goals from Daniel Bareham and Jordan Scent.
“We are a newly-promoted side but we have done well and there have been some fantastic moments.
“There has been a couple of lows as well and a bit of inconsistency, but we are learning all the time about this level.
“A win would be fantastic, but if we can avoid getting beat we will head into the break in great shape and be pleased with our work so far.”
It will be East Harling’s second meeting of the season with Bungay, having come from two goals down to beat them 3-2 in the Mummery Cup in September.
Lawrence is expecting another tough encounter, but feels there are certain areas his team can exploit.
“It was a really tight game last time and this will probably be the same,” he added.
“They are a solid side with plenty of experience. They have been in the league a long time now.
“But if we can get the ball into wide areas – like we did in the cup game – we will get chances to hurt them.”
New signing Tom Miles, who was most recently on the books at Attleborough Town, will link up with the squad early in the new year.
“We lost a couple of attacking players recently so it was an area we needed to address,” said Lawrence.
“Tom is proven at this level and that is a big thing for us to bring in.
“I tried to sign him four years ago but he ended up at Attleborough and also the year after, but he stayed put."
