Leaders Felixstowe & Walton travel to Long Melford – a tricky test for Seasiders
Thurrock's Adetayo Osifuwa, left, challenges Regan Pelling, of Leiston. Pelling has since joined Felixstowe & Walton this week. Photo: PAUL VOLLER - Credit: Archant
Felixstowe & Walton United’s push for promotion sees them start the new year with a 14-point lead at the top of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division and a plus 58 goal difference that should provide them with a cushion and leave the chasing pack having to hope they slip up in their final 17 games, if anyone other than Coggeshall are to mount a challenge, writes Phil Griffiths.
The two clubs look like pulling away from the pack, with third placed Stowmarket Town 19 points adrift of the leaders, with two games in hand.
The Seasiders ended the year with a win, after a Christmas wobble that produced just one point from a possible nine.
And they face a tricky test this weekend when they travel to Long Melford for the first of eight remaining away games.
The Villagers have been a surprise package this season and sit in a comfortable 16th place, well clear of any relegation worries and with some notable scalps to their name, none more so than Wroxham, who were relegated from the Isthmian League last season.
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Melford took all three points at Trafford Park in their final game of 2017.
Felixstowe and Melford met in the reverse fixture just a month ago at the Goldstar Ground, and while the final scoreline looked a comfortable 3-0 home win, the game itself was a tight affair – this game will be equally tough.
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The Felixstowe management have been busy over the Christmas period and confirmed on Monday they had signed striker Regan Pelling from Bostik Premier side Leiston.
Pelling, a contract player with the Blues, was a regular in the side at the start of the season, but has recently found himself down the pecking order and joins the Seasiders after having his contract cancelled with Leiston in a mutually agreed deal.
Pelling goes straight into the squad for this weekend’s game against Melford.
While Coggeshall have the games in hand, and should they win them all would catch and overtake the Seasiders, Felixstowe know that points on the board are secure, and now they have just one aim . . . to win the next game.
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