Felixstowe Harpers United joint-manager Peter Gorham insists staying in the SIL Senior Division is his side’s priority this season, ahead of their home clash with Achilles in the fourth round of the Bob Coleman Cup tomorrow (Saturday).

Harpers are 10 points clear of the relegation zone with two games in hand on the side directly below them, Wickham Market.

“We are third from bottom with two games in hand and the priority this season has always been to retain our Senior Division status and the cup is just a bit of fun at the moment,” said Gorham.

The fortunes of the club this season are in stark contrast to those of last season when Harpers finished third in the Senior Division, albeit 20 points adrift of eventual champions, Crane Sports.

However, there was quite a lot of movement in the summer and Gorham and joint-boss Larry Elliston are slowly beginning to put things in place again.

“Ian Watson (manager) went to Felixstowe and we lost a lot of players and missed pre-season,” recalls Gorham.

“We have had a few problems along the way but we have got a squad together and it’s the cup, so anything can happen.”

Harpers lost in the league to third-placed Achilles, 6-0 at home, earlier in the season, but Gorham is hoping for a closer affair this time.

“There is no pressure on us really, they beat us 6-0 earlier in the season but we have been trying to rebuild,” he explained.

“Myself and Larry (Elliston) have tried to put a local side together and since that game (against Achilles), we have only lost one game to be fair.

“It’s taken until Christmas, but we have hit a bit of form, although we came unstuck at Bramford (4-0) last week.

“But we have got a decent squad, we are just lacking a goalscorer.

“Hopefully we can give them a closer game this time.”

Gorham has form in the Bob Coleman Cup, with former club Ransomes and added: “I was manager at Ransomes when we won the competition two years in a row.

“It’s a big competition in Ipswich and one that should be played at Portman Road.”

In the other Bob Coleman Cup clash tomorrow, Crane Sports, in second, host fifth-top Capel Plough, also in the fourth round.

In the Senior Division, Framlingham Town host Westerfield United, while Wickham Market can close the gap on Felixstowe Harpers with a win at Grundisburgh.

Elsewhere, Ipswich Athletic are at home to Bramford United, Wenhaston United go to Ipswich Valley Rangers, Leiston St Margarets entertain Haughley and Stanton are at home to East Bergholt.