Premier AIpswich II 1 Harleston Magpies 3Harleston Magpies moved a step closer to the league title and potentially promotion to the national league with a convincing away win over Ipswich II.

Premier A

Ipswich II 1 Harleston Magpies 3

Harleston Magpies moved a step closer to the league title and potentially promotion to the national league with a convincing away win over Ipswich II.

Second placed St Albans are now nine points adrift from league-leaders Harleston and, with five games to go, a win for Harleston over their nearest rivals this weekend would all but secure the title.

While the Magpies could mathematically drop points this weekend and still win the title, a win would ease the tension and allow the squad to develop in the remaining league games before taking on the other divisional winners to secure a place in the coveted national league for next season.

Harleston manager Robert Stimpson said: “Our form has been a little mixed recently but we have still been picking up maximum points.

“I know we are due a good one and I am confident the boys will respond because they desperately

want to do the double over St Albans.

“We have been more consistent than the Hertfordshire side and I feel we have greater strength in depth as our results throughout the season have proved. We are without injury problems and

are able to pick from a full squad.”