East Bergholt United manager Frank Thompson said his side’s season “could go either way” between now and the end of the Kingsley Healthcare SIL campaign.

Five straight wins have lifted East Bergholt, one of the pre-season favourites for the title, into the top five of the Senior Division – and they also have a semi-final tie in the Touchline Sports Cup to look forward to.

Thompson, who earlier in the season urged his side to “stop feeling sorry for themselves” has been pleased with their response since.

“We are doing alright. Earlier in the season we had an horrendous injury list and were feeling sorry for ourselves. Since then players have come back from injury and suspension.

“We have been working hard and have had the rub of the green, which we weren’t getting earlier on and which cancels itself out over the season.

“We have got six league games left and a cup semi-final coming up and our season could go either way.”

Thompson said he was not surprised that Westerfield United provided stern opposition last Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Touchline Sports Cup, before bowing out 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw after extra time. “They have already reached the final of the Suffolk Junior Cup and are doing well in Division One. Indeed, if they win their games in hand they will go top.

“They have got some useful players, and I knew I we didn’t get an early goal they would make it hard for us, which they did. “I knew they would be up for it and we had everything to lose because we are in the top six of the Senior Division and they came and gave it a real go. It was a good game of football and they were a credit to themselves.”

Tomorrow Thompson takes his side to Haughley United, who also reached the last four of the Touchline Sports Cup thanks to a 3-2 victory over Senior Division leaders Woodbridge Athletic.

“Haughley had a tremendous result last Saturday and it will be a tough game for us,” he added.