BRANTHAM Athletic boss Tony Hall believes the best is yet to come in spite of his side’s impressive start to the new season.

After being idle on the opening day due to building work being carried out at their home ground, Brantham won twice away in the space of four days, scoring seven goals and conceding none.

They followed up a 3-0 victory in the Ridgeons League Premier Division at Hadleigh United with a 4-0 thumping of Mildenhall Town in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.

Hall, who takes his Brantham side to Walsham-le-Willows tomorrow looking to make it a hat-trick of wins on the road, said: “I think the best is yet to come.

“We have improved considerably from last season, and can give anyone a run for their money.

“I have been pleased to keep two clean sheets as last season we let in 85 goals. We have got players who can score goals, but we need to defend better as a team this season.”

Ollie Mann, last season’s leading scorer in the Ridgeons League, has already hit the back of the net three times in two games, albeit twice from the penaltry spot, and striker partner Lee Grimwood has scored twice.

Brantham will start favourites against a Walsham side back under the management of Paul Smith, who worked wonders in his first spell at Summer Road but has started the season with three league defeats.

Woodbridge Town, one of six sides locked on six points, make a quick return to Norfolk, scene of their FA Cup exit at the hands of Gorleston on Tuesday night, when they meet Norwich United.

Felixstowe & Walton United, with three consecutive wins behind them, will also be travelling up the A140 before heading in the opposite direction along the A47 to face last season’s runners-up Dereham Town.

Hadleigh United, who picked up a useful point at Mildenhall on Tuesday night, return to the Millfield, where the scholars of CRC are the visitors.

The Brettsiders have been rocked by confirmation that striker Alan Ross, signed in the summer from Walsham-le-Willows, has ruptured his cruciate ligament and will be out for the season along with Matt Buckle who suffered the same injury earlier this year. On top of that skipper Paul Donnelly fractured his foot in Tuesday night’s match and will be out for several weeks.

Whitton United, looking to make up for missing out on promotion to the Premier Division last season, have made a solid start in Division One and should pick up three points at home to Team Bury.

Long Melford, who fell away badly last season after a bright start, have recorded two wins out of two and will be out to make it three in a row at Debenham, who have yet to get off the mark.

Long Melford scored four times in the opening game of the season at Stowmarket, who tomorrow travel to Godmanchester Rovers, while another Cambridgeshire side – March Town United – visit Humber Doucy Lane, home of Ipswich Wanderers.