The next month is set to be a crucial one for Ipswich Wanderers.

The Humber Doucy Lane outfit appear to have one of their best opportunities to finally bounce back to the Ridgeons League Premier Division after manager Steve Buckle spent the summer pieceing together an experienced squad.

Eight victories from their opening 12 games has propelled the Rushmere-based side to fourth in the table, just five points off the top with two games in hand.

And they have a huge opportunity to reach the summit over the coming month as they play table-toppers Cambridge University Press twice in quick succession – at home tomorrow and then away just two weeks’ later.

“We like to think we have a chance of being promoted this season,” said Buckle.

“We know that nobody gets promoted or relegated in December, but this is undoubtedly a crucial period we are heading into.

“At the moment it’s important that we just stay in touch. If we are still in the mix around February time then we will be able to look at the bigger picture and hopefully push on from there.”

Cambridge University Press, a new side to enter the Ridgeons League this summer, have enjoyed a fantastic start to the campaign, aided by the fact they have the league’s leading scorer in Gerard Molloy.

Wanderers are not too far behind though and have a side packed with experience at a higher level, with the likes of Danny Phillips and Keith Hetherington having played in the Ridgeons top-flight and Scott Wark having played in the Football League with Rushden & Diamonds.

“I know absolutely nothing about them,” admitted Buckle, ahead of tomorrow’s visit of the league newcomers.

“I hear they are quite a young side that like to play a bit of football and I know they have the league’s leading scorer but that’s about it.

“We’ve got to stop going behind in games because we’ve needed to play a little bit of catch-up in recent weeks. I’d like to see us start brightly and go at them straight away. If we could get the first goal it would be nice to see what they are made of.”

Wanderers will be without midfielder Matt Buckle and right-back Tommy Deller through suspension tomorrow, while goalkeeper Jack Foster might miss the game as his girlfriend is expecting a baby. Should the custodian be required at the hospital then Callum Deacon, who started the season as the club’s first choice keeper, is on stand-by.

– See Monday’s EADT and Evening Star for match report.