Long Melford manager Jules Mumford is relieved to have kept the Villagers in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division, after an up and down season in their second campaign at step five.

Mumford’s side secured a third successive season in the Premier Division, after a 2-0 home win over Swaffham last weekend.

They finish their season today, away at Kirkley & Pakefield and Mumford is happy that he can now plan for next season.

“It’s been a tough season and we have been in the bottom half for most of it and we were not able to push on after last season’s ninth-placed finish,” explained Mumford.

“When we lost at Hadleigh, 6-1 on Boxing Day, I felt the players looked a bit beaten, but soon after we turned it around and won four games on the trot, three of them against Kirkley, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth, who are good teams at this level.

“We had a lull again and lost six games on the trot and that has been the story of our season, it has been very up-and-down campaign.”

A meagre total of 41 goals in 39 games has not helped matters this season, Mumford hampered by the loss of star striker Jamie Griffiths who, after scoring 31 goals last season, suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season and has yet to kick a ball in anger this term.

“Jamie scores 30 goals a season and we could not replace that,” Mumford said of the former Ipswich Town and Plymouth Argyle forward.

“We then missed Ross Ward for the last eight games of the season and I would like to get all my players back in pre-seasn and see how they fare and look at what we need for next season.

Melford remain in a division that will see Stowmarket Town, Coggeshall Town and Haverhill Borough come up from Division One and the likes of Wroxham and Histon expected to join them next season.

Mumford explained: “It is going to be a tough league with the likes of Wroxham and Histon potentially coming down and Stowmarket and Coggeshall, who are big-budget sides, coming up and joining us.

“Then there is Haverhill Borough who are a very good side and they will come up with no pressure on them, nothing to lose, and looking to carry on their momentum.”