CAN Crane Sports mount a serious challenge for the Metaltec SIL Senior Division title?They are unbeaten this season and shocked Ridgeons League Hadleigh United in the Suffolk Senior Cup last week.

Elvin King

CAN Crane Sports mount a serious challenge for the Metaltec SIL Senior Division title?

They are unbeaten this season and shocked Ridgeons League Hadleigh United in the Suffolk Senior Cup last week.

They have been one of the hardest sides to beat for a while now, but are they ready for a serious assault on the league title?

“Yes I think we are,” said Robbie Beecroft, who manages the side jointly with Christian Appleford. “We have started well, but we are keeping our feet on the ground and taking notice of the old football adage of taking one game at a time.”

Crane, who play Felixstowe United tomorrow, have won the title once - way back in 1974/75. But that was a memorable achievement as under the management of the legendary Jimmy Barker they dropped just one point in the whole league campaign.

Leaders and title favourites Grundisburgh and Pat Tynan's talented Capel Plough are also unbeaten in the Senior Division, with Beecroft saying that his club took a good look at itself in the summer

Now in his fifth year in charge, Beecroft said: “Finishing ninth last season was not good enough. It was our lowest finish for a few years and we had to take stock.

“Crane is a good place to be right now. We have a great atmosphere and the boys are training well. Tomorrow's game will not be easy, but we will be well prepared.

“Tactically we got it right against Hadleigh. It was no spectacle, but we deserved to go through.”

Marcus Joshiah has been scoring freely for Crane while former Westerfield player- manager Olle Langham has proved a valuable addition - as has Michael Read.

Crane play at King George V ground, Whitton, where they use a second pitch on the site that houses the Whitton United stadium.

With houses set to be built on the pitches currently used by Whitton and Crane - the nearby former Tooks bakery has already been demolished - a move to a new venue is likely in the not-too-distant future.

The indications are that a second pitch will be laid next to Whitton's planned stadium with Beecroft saying: “We have a fantastic relationship with Whitton and as far as we know will be re-housed by them when the move is made.”

Grundisburgh face a trip to Stonham Aspal while Capel Plough have a repeat of their Suffolk Senior Cup first round when they meet Woodbridge Athletic having just made progress in a high-scoring game in the cup earlier this month.