IT IS not unusual that Grundisburgh have only lost one of their last seven Touchline Sports SIL games.

What is unusual is that they have so little to play for at this stage of the season.

The village side are languishing in mid-table in ninth position in the Senior Division and out of the LB Group Suffolk Senior Cup.

That leaves the Bob Coleman Cup as their only chance of lifting any silverware this season.

Grundisburgh will be away to Benhall St Mary, who sit ninth in Division Two, in the third round of the Bob Coleman Cup.

Joint manager Micky Squirrell said: “Last season we were drawn away to Division One side Sporting 87 and went there on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run and lost, so we won’t be taking them lightly.”

Squirrell has been disappointed to see players depart during the course of the campaign, especially as others had moved on prior to the start of the season.

Mical Moore and Tom Bradlaugh both left in the summer to join Thurlow Nunn Legue Division One Whitton United, while Mark Van-Oene and Lyndon Alexander have since also signed for the same club.

Andy Crump has also left to return to former club Felixstowe & Walton United, who play two levels higher than Grundisburgh in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

His younger brother, goalkeeper Danny Crump, is staying put after being linked with a move to the Seasiders following Andrew Plummer’s move to Lowestoft Town this week.

Squirrell, who is joint manager with Kevin Cunningham, lamented: “We are in the process of a re-building job. We have had to rebuild sides in the past, but not actually during the season.

“We lost too many quality players before the season started and have now been left with a threadbare squad.

“You normally have the summer to try to get new players in, but we have had to try to do it during the season.

“There is no danger of us going down, but we are not going to finish near the top either.

“We have put lots of seven-day approaches in for players, but have not had a lot of joy.”

Grundisburgh travel to Melton St Audry’s tomorrow when they will be without Steve Dearsley, who is taking a break as he is soon to become a father, and Luke Reid, who is expected to be out for a month after damaging ankle ligaments.

Squirrell said: “We lost 3-1 at home to Melton in our second game of the season. It is a local derby and they are always a tough nut to crack.”