Veteran midfielder Kem Izzet is happy to do some of Ryan Crisp’s running, providing the prolific striker continues to find the net, according to Needham Market boss Mark Morsley.

The duo scored in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Tilbury, to further enhance the Marketmen’s position in the Ryman North play-off places, and could help their club into fourth place tonight – six points above sixth-placed Thurrock – if they defeat visitors AFC Sudbury and Heybridge Swifts lose or draw at Tilbury.

After 18 goals in 420 games for Colchester United, Izzet has scored seven goals for fifth-placed Needham this campaign, while Crisp, a recent signing from Leiston, has scored eight times in 13 games.

Morsley is keen for the pair to keep scoring and, in Crisp, believes he has one of the best strikers in the division.

“There is no doubt about Ryan’s ability as a goalscorer. When he played at Kirkley & Pakefield their manager Paul Tong said he was the best striker he had ever worked with.

“He is a bit of an enigma and does not have that real work ethic, but Kem (Izzet) said to me that he would do Ryan’s 20% if he continued scoring goals.”

As for Izzet, Morsley added: “He’s scored a couple of penalties this season, but he does get into a lot of good positions, arriving late into the box. He has got a lot of energy and picks up a lot of second balls.”

Tonight’s teams have already played each other on a couple of occasions this season, drawing 0-0 at the MEL Group Stadium earlier in the season, before Needham prevailed 2-1 in the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round.

“It will be a feisty derby affair and Sudbury still have an outside chance of getting in the play-offs. They will want to put a spanner in the works,” said former Sudbury boss Morsley.

“We feel we have been given a lifeline.

“We had two or three bad performances and it looked like we might not be good enough to get in the play-offs.

“It’s almost as if we are in last-chance saloon.”

Elsewhere tonight, Bury host Met Police, Leiston entertain Carshalton and Lowestoft are at home to Enfield.

In the North division, Maldon host Aveley,