Ipswich Wanderers travel to Whitton United in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division tonight (7.45pm) with revenge in their thoughts.

Wanderers fell to a 1-0 defeat against Whitton in last season’s Suffolk Senior Cup Final and also finished eight points behind Paul Bugg’s champions in Division One as both teams were promoted to the top-flight.

“We are maybe looking for a bit of revenge,” said Wanderers’ boss Glenn Read, who kicked-off their seasonswith a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Diss Town on Saturday.

“We played them in the cup final last season and didn’t turn up and they deserved to win.

“They also finished above us in the league so both teams will be up for the game.

“Paul Bugg (Whitton manager) said last week that the game with us had come a little bit early in the season, but I don’t think there is ever a good time to meet each other.

“It’s sod’s law that we have both gone up but it is good that we are both in the Premier Division and good for Suffolk, especially with Felixstowe & Walton, Hadleigh and Walsham-le-Willows also involved.”

Read was delighted with his team’s start to the season and particularly pleased for midfielder Jack Severy who scored two goals.

“It was quite funny really as I was speaking to Jack before the game and telling him that I needed more goals from him this season,” added Read.

“It was a good result for us but the start of the season is a strange time.

“We played Diss who escaped relegation last year and have a new manager (Mike Derbyshire) and new players.

“You don’t know what they are going to be like and it sometimes takes a while to settle down and, as a result, you can get some surpise results, like there was at Felixstowe & Walton (the Seasiders lost 4-1 at home to Norwich United).

“For us, it was a good start. It was quite an even first half but once we scored the second goal, I thought we were in control and deserved to win.”

Despite their great start, Read will not be getting carried away and insists the aim, as it is at Whitton, is consolidation this season.

“Our benchmark was to reach the Premier Division last season,” said Read.

“I think a top-six finish is a bit ambitious and our aim will be to consolidate and have a good cup run.

“The last thing we want to do is finish in the bottom three.”

Wanderers took four points off Whitton last season, Remi Garrett (2) and Rob Canfer scoring in a 3-3 draw away from home, before Ross Myhill (2) and Nile Francis gave them a 3-0 victory over their already-promoted opponents in April.

However, Whitton, who drew 2-2 at Haverhill Rovers on Saturday, were not to be denied in the Senior Cup final, James Burnett scoring the only goal of the game.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division tonight, Walsham-le-Willows travel to Thetford Town, Hadleigh United host Wivenhoe Town and Felixstowe & Walton are on the road at Brantham Athletic.

In the First Division, AFC Sudbury Reserves travel to Braintree Town Reserves, Cornard United host Halstead Town, Leiston Reserves go to Debenham LC and Stowmarket Town entertain Team Bury.