RANSOMES Sports boss Peter Gorham admits his side are facing a “massive game” against fellow strugglers Crane Sports tomorrow.

Crane currently sit second bottom of the Kingsley Healthcare SIL Senior Division, with Ransomes one point and one place better off, although they do also have a game in hand.

Ransomes were challenging for the title last season, but it has been a different story so far this time around.

Gorham explained: “We lost six or seven players in the summer to the Ridgeons League and we have had to rebuild. We have also brought in a couple of 16-year-olds and we have not got off to a brilliant start.

“We were unlucky to lose in the Suffolk Senior Cup to Achilles on penalties last weekend, and only lost 2-1 to Grundisburgh the week before. We could also have taken a point off Melton St Audrys in our previous game.

“We are moving in the right direction, although it is going to take until Christmas to get something going.

“This weekend is a massive game for us - a real six-pointer - and there will be added spice after two of our coaching staff, Ian Radnor and Sam Nunn, left to join Cranes.

“Hopefully with the way we are playing and a bit of luck we can get the three points.”

Gorham has brought in experience in the shape of ex-Ridgeons players Scott Wark, brothers Danny and Aaron Carnell and goalkeeper Jack Foster from Ipswich Wanderers and complemented that with youth in Elliot Crowe and ‘Jazz’ Haynes.

“They have both come through our youth team and are taking time to adapt to senior football, but are doing well.”

Crowe was the unfortunate player - he was not 16 at the start of this year and therefore was too young under the competition’s rules - whose appearance in the SIL Representative side saw them thrown out of the FA Inter-League Cup earlier this month.

Gorham, who was joint manager of the team, said: “It was disappointing for him to be named, but we have good people at the club who have been nursing him.

“Elliot has been with us since he was nine and even though he is 16 we have already had four seven-day approaches from Ridgeons League clubs, but he needs a season in the SIL to toughen him up.”