Felixstowe & Walton joint manager Ian Watson knows Saturday’s Thurlow Nunn Premier league clash at Stowmarket Town is a big game for both sides, writes Phil Griffiths.

Runaway Thurlow Nunn league leaders, the Seasiders, make the 28-mile journey along the A14 to Greens Meadow, for what should be a fascinating game between two of the divisions form teams.

It’s the third time the two sides have met this season.

And while the pressure is invariably on Felixstowe & Walton every game, in their pursuit of the championship, it may well be that for a change it’s greater on their opponents who need the points to ensure they stay in touch with the current top two, Felixstowe and Coggeshall.

“It’s a big game for us, however it is the same for Rick (Andrews) and his boys,” Watson said at a fans’ forum at the club this week.

“In fact, there is potentially more at stake and pressure on Stowmarket.

“Obviously we have met twice already this season and been lucky enough to come out on top.

“But we still take every game as it comes and try and pick a side to win each match.”

Felixstowe and Stowmarket have indeed met twice this season with the Seasiders winning both, albeit the second, in the Suffolk Premier Cup, was at the end of a penalty shoot-out.

The sides met on the opening day of the season at the Goldstar Ground when Stowmarket looked to be heading for their first win, leading 3-1 with 30 minutes to go, only see the Seasiders score three times to take the points.

Stow will not want second-placed Coggeshall to open up a bigger gap than the current five points, nor see the sides below them close up or overtake them.

Watson and fellow joint boss, Kevin O’Donnell will also be hoping to start seeing some of their injured players become available, with a busy Christmas schedule coming up.

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