UNTROUBLED by points deductions this season Ipswich Athletic are staging a strong championship charge.

After losing their opening two matches they have regrouped and go into tomorrow’s derby against Achilles at Bourne Vale in fifth place but just three points behind with a game in hand over leaders Ransomes Sports.

“We were deducted six points for using an ineligible player against Stowupland Falcons last term and this had a bad effect on us for a number of weeks,” said manager Jimmy Marjoram.

Felixstowe United also suffered a similar fate but with losing out on the title to Old Newton their plight gained much more publicity.

“We made an innocent error, and it ended up taking the wind out of our sails,” added Marjoram, who has Shane Coldron as his assistant.

“The players became understandably dejected and I was unable to get 100% out of them for a while.

“We enjoyed a purple patch towards the end of the season, but by then it was too late.

“And after losing a number of players during the summer we were trounced in our opening two games and were on the wrong end of a 9-1 goal difference.

“But we have picked up since and are one of the six clubs in contention for the title.”

Marjoram sees the importance of staying in touch with the leaders over the winter months, and he is keeping his fingers crossed that tomorrow’s match goes ahead or it will be a month since their last game.

“We’ve had our last two matches postponed and were without a game the Saturday before,” continued Marjoram.

“Most seasons around this time of the year there are only three – perhaps four at the most – teams still in contention.

“But this time around there are five – with others who are capable of joining the party – and we must look to stay in contention, and see where that takes us.

“If we can hang around among the leaders we will have a chance.”

Sam Bartholomew, Kaleb Ebanks and Gavin Flurrie have come in to bolster Athletic this season with the addition of a couple of players from Stowupland Falcons.

Looking at the task that confronts his side tomorrow, Marjoram went on: “They can walk to our ground from their club, which all adds to the challenge.

“We managed to beat them at home last season, but they walloped us at their place so we know it is going to be tough.

“There will be two good teams in action so it should be a good game.”

Peter Gorham’s Ransomes travel to Greshams to play Crane Sports in another Ipswich derby while second-placed Felixstowe United will be fancied to beat Framlingham Town.

A win for fourth-placed Grundisburgh at sixth-placed Woodbridge Athletic should widen the gap between the top five and the rest.

Recent Kingsley Healthcare SIL transfers: Aarron Hayes (Halesworth to Wenhaston), Melvyn Smith (Blakenham to Henley).