THE Ridgeons League continues to thrive and as usual member clubs are doing well in the FA Vase.The national competition - with a Wembley Stadium final - is for Step Five clubs downwards, with the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League operating at Step Five level.

Elvin King

THE Ridgeons League continues to thrive and as usual member clubs are doing well in the FA Vase.

The national competition - with a Wembley Stadium final - is for Step Five clubs downwards, with the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League operating at Step Five level.

Diss Town in 1994 are the only Ridgeons League team to have lifted the trophy, and to demonstrate the strength of the league it is about time a second club followed suit.

Sudbury Town, AFC Sudbury, Tiptree and Lowestoft Town have all reached the final - and lost. And last season Needham Market were beaten semi-finalists.

Six of the seven Ridgeons League clubs left in this season have home ties in the third round on December 6 - giving them a good chance of getting through to the last 32.

FA Cup heroes Leiston are at home to Aylesbury Vale, from mid-table in the Spartan South Midlands while Needham entertain mid-table United Counties League St Neots Town.

The Saints are the best supported side in their league with an average attendance of 183 and have already eliminated Great Yarmouth and Long Melford. Lowestoft take on Spartan South Midlands League leaders Harefield United at Crown Meadow, who like Lowestoft have lost only one league match this season.

Dereham Town are at home to Combined Counties League Molesey while FC Clacton

welcome United Counties League Holbeach.

Stanway Rovers' opponents are mid-table Shoreham from the Sussex County League, with Wivenhoe the only Ridgeons League side that have to travel.

They face a tough task at Biggleswade Town, currently third in the Spartan South Midlands League.

It is not such a happy picture in the First Division of the Ridgeons League.

After dominating the Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup by winning it seven years running until Grundisburgh's success last season, there is only one Ridgeons club left in this campaign's quarter-final.

Brantham Athletic are left to carry the flag and will be at home to either Corton or Ransomes who play their second round game on Saturday.

Two Metaltec SIL sides beat Ridgeons League teams with Capel Plough getting the better of Cornard and Leiston St Margarets beating last season's finalists Stowmarket Town. Lakenheath hit back to shock Debenham Leisure Centre.