East Harling eyeing up a top four finish in the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Division One

On paper East Harling have a tough run-in, but manager Stacey Lawrence is relishing the final few weeks of the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Division One season.

Any realistic chance Lawrence’s men had of winning the title were ended by recent back-to-back defeats to UEA and Aylsham, but with the rumour mill suggesting as many as four teams could be promoted to the Premier Division, fifth-placed Harling still have plenty left to play for between now and the end of the campaign.

The first of their final four games is a derby at Attleborough Town (9th) tomorrow (2.30pm), followed by a trip to another rival – 11th-placed Thetford Rovers – a week later.

That is followed by a home clash with Easton, who are currently just two points adrift of the Green Army, followed by the visit of champions elect Mundford.

And with Harling only being kept out of the top four on goal difference, Lawrence is well aware his team’s destiny is still very much in their own hands.

“Even if we were rock bottom with nothing to play for the lads would want to win a derby, and we have two of them to come,” he said. “These are lads that work together, socialise with each other, so you are going to want to beat them.

“Attleborough and Thetford might be mid-table teams but when it is a derby league positions do not matter. They are going to want to beat us and it will be a couple of gruelling games.

“If we can win both of those that leaves things very much in our own hands going into the final two games.

“Realistically we are not going to finish lower than eighth and for a newly-promoted side that is a great achievement, but with the top four still a possibility we want to push for it.”

After being ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, Lawrence has near full availability for the short trip to Attleborough. Only captain Daniel Bareham (suspended) and centre-forward Joe Allen (work) will be missing.