Rick Andrews says he has not given up on Stowmarket Town’s promotion bid this season just yet, writes Alex Moss.

Stow suffered their first away league defeat since September last weekend, losing 1-0 to Godmanchester Rovers at the David Wilson Homes Ground.

Victories for the top two, Felixstowe & Walton United and Coggeshall Town, over the weekend left Stow further adrift in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division promotion race.

But ahead of hosting bottom side Wivenhoe Town at Greens Meadow tomorrow (3pm), manager Andrews admits despite last Saturday’s defeat his side will not be throwing in the towel on their top-two ambitions now.

“The dream scenario is to go into the last game of the season with something to play for,” Andrews said. “We want to keep the season alive for as long as possible.

“Every week we pick up a win we can do that, while Felixstowe are the same and if they win they’re a week closer to their aim.

“Our aim is to push everyone as hard as possible for the rest of the season and see where it takes us.”

Stow have played less games than the top two, with three games in hand on leaders Felixstowe and one game in hand on second-placed Coggeshall.

But the Seasiders’ 4-0 win at home to Haverhill Borough last weekend saw them reopen a 17-point lead over Andrews’ side, while Coggeshall are 15 points clear of the Old Gold and Blacks after recent wins on the road at Hadleigh United and FC Clacton.

Stow have put together two nine-match winning runs in their first season back in the Premier Division, but it may take winning all of their remaining 11 games to stand a chance of gate-crashing the top two.

“I still think there might be a twist or turn along the way,” Andrews said. “All we can do is concentrate on ourselves, carry on trying to pick up wins and see where it takes us.”

Following the game against Wivenhoe, Stow will be holding a social evening at Greens Meadow for all sponsors and supporters to attend.