A WEEK before their FA Vase semi-final, first leg, Danny Laws' Needham Market will be out for a confidence-boosting win in the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League against Swaffham at Bloomfields.

Elvin King

A WEEK before their FA Vase semi-final, first leg, Danny Laws' Needham Market will be out for a confidence-boosting win in the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League against Swaffham at Bloomfields.

And they will be hoping eighth-placed Dereham can do them favour by taking points off current leaders Soham.

Needham have signed 21-year-old striker Mark Heath-Preston from King's Lynn, and he is eligible for their cup competitions including the Vase.

Heath-Preston, who made his Ridgeons League debut as a 15-year-old for Downham at Needham, has been released from his contract at Lynn where he has scored 18 goals for their reserves this season.

“Mark is proven at our level, and showed a real desire to join our club,” said Laws.

Heath-Preston, who will be in the Needham squad tomorrow, has been a regular in the Lynn reserve side in the Ridgeons League, but he has also featured in the Lynn first team in the Southern League Premier Division this season.

Woodbridge will start favourites to beat bottom club Newmarket at Notcutt's Park, while Steve Buckle's Ipswich Wanderers can improve their hopes of escaping relegation with a home victory over Norwich United in the second Ipswich and Norwich derby. Visiting goalkeeper Matthew Hill was born in Ipswich and grew up in Rushmere and is still an Ipswich Town fan.

In the First Division, Hadleigh (v Yarmouth), and Debenham LC (v Thetford) can consolidate their promotion challengers, but Whitton, who have taken striker Ben Cranfield on loan from Needham for the rest of the season, face a stiff task at leaders Tiptree.

There is a clause in the agreement that Needham can recall Cranfield after the initial 28-day loan period. His goalscoring prowess can give Gary Thompson's Whitton a lift.

Hadleigh will be without Daniel Oakes, but Mark Porter returns after being cup tied as Hadleigh reached the Suffolk Senior Cup final. Pat Fleming is still suffering from a knee injury.

Brightlingsea Regent, currently second in the Border League, have applied for membership of the Ridgeons League.