DEBENHAM Leisure Centre have their deadly duo back in action - and they are firing on all cylinders again as they seek promotion from the First Division of the Ridgeons League.

Elvin King

DEBENHAM Leisure Centre have their deadly duo back in action - and they are firing on all cylinders again as they seek promotion from the First Division of the Ridgeons League.

Stuart Jopling and Ian Gedny topped the scoring charts with a remarkable 33 goals apiece last season.

They are back in action after missing six weeks through injury and they both netted as Debenham beat Gorleston on Tuesday to make it two wins in four days.

Debenham may have slipped down the table to ninth place, but they are still only three points adrift of a promotion place and a win over Halstead tomorrow will see them leap frog the fourth-placed Essex club.

Jopling has netted 19 goals this term - four behind top First Division marksman Tom English (Tiptree) - with manager Mel Aldis saying: “With our front two back in action we are looking for a strong end to the season.

“If the opportunity is there to progress to the Premier League naturally we would take it.

“But I am not going to break the bank to do it. It would not be the end of the world if we didn't go up for a couple of years.”

Aldis has done all the necessary paperwork and was talking to Stowmarket Town's Warren Taylor-Holt yesterday about a transfer that could see the forward-thinking midfielder make his Debenham debut tomorrow.

Aldis was also pleased to have seven players from the village in his side that beat Gorleston. “We also had three promising teenagers in Jason Palfrey (18), Jamie Abbott (18) and Tommy Smith (17).

“Warren is a player I have admired for a long while, and hopefully we can get him onboard.”

Stowmarket are away to March Town, while Hadleigh United, who have taken local youngster Chris Cowans on loan from Wivenhoe Town, are at home to Fakenham Town. Whitton United take on Ely City at King George V Field, Old Norwich Road, Ipswich.

Striker Andrew Claydon has joined Felixstowe and Walton United from Mildenhall, and the ex-AFC Sudbury man will be out to make a potent strike force with the Premier Division's leading scorer Danny Phillips.

Steve Potts' Seasiders travel to Mildenhall while Woodbridge Town are away to King's Lynn reserves and Walsham-le-Willows are at home to Lowestoft Town.

Ridgeons League Premier Division championship-chasers Needham Market are at home to United Counties League St Ives in an FA Vase fifth round replay with a quarter-final place at stake.

Needham have a full squad to select from and have called on support from the local football fraternity to cheer them on to become two wins from a Wembley final. Schoolchildren will be allowed in free with a paying adult.