Best friends become foes this afternoon as Kevin O’Donnell’s Felixstowe & Walton United welcome Mark Scott’s Thetford Town to the Goldstar Ground.

The two managers are buddies off the pitch, but will become fierce enemies today as they turn their attentions to Thurlow Nunn Premier Division duties after experiencing differing County Cup fortunes in midweek.

While the Seasiders were playing out an epic Suffolk Premier Cup encounter against Vanarama Conference North side Lowestoft Town that saw the Trawlerboys need extra-time to eventually see off Felixstowe 5-3, the Mundford Road side were enjoying a 1-0 victory in the Norfolk Senior Cup against Norwich City Under-21s.

O’Donnell took over at The Goldstar in October 2012 following a first-team coaching role at Thetford under Scott, and will therefore know about all the threats his opposite number’s side may boast.

Indeed, Thetford may well be boosted by such success against Norwich’s young guns, despite going into that game without a win in six league games.

The Brecklanders have drawn one and lost five of their last six league games, although three of those were to sides currently sitting in the top four in Norwich United, Godmanchester Rovers and Stuart Crawford’s Hadleigh United.

While the home side are unbeaten in their last seven league games, three of the last four have ended as draws and the Seasiders have slipped back to sixth in the table.

A win today could however see them push up to third, but O’Donnell will be sweating on the fitness of leading scorer Ben Cranfield, who was substituted late on against Lowestoft in midweek.

He should otherwise have a fully-fit squad to select from, with assistant manager Danny Bloomfield potentially set for a return to the squad after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.