Woodbridge Town boss Lee Elliston hopes to ‘rip up the form book’ on Saturday, as high-flying Brightlingsea Regent come to Notcutts in a Thurlow Nunn Premier Division game.

The Essex side are on the crest of a wave after FA Vase success over Bodmin Town last weekend put them into the last 16 of the competition.

And with Regent sitting nicely in the top six of the table, Elliston knows his lowly Woodbridge side have a game on their hands.

But he’s up for the challenge.

“It would be great to rip up the form book,” he said.

“We are all very aware we have our hands full trying to beat Brightlingsea, they are a fine side.

“But last week we showed too much respect to Newmarket and got punished.

“I don’t expect us to show the same respect to Brightlingsea on Saturday.”

Elliston has been buoyed by the enthusiasm and positivity at Notcutts since his appointment earlier this month.

One win and one defeat in the league may not point the club totally in the direction it wishes to be heading – up the table – but Elliston is happy with what he has seen so far.

“To be honest, it’s been a very positive few weeks,” he said.

“The youngsters have responded really well and the senior players too have been very positive. Training has seen some great turnouts.

“We have worked a lot on fitness because the team needed that and it’s going well. We just need to build up the lads’ confidence.”

Current under-18 coach at Woodbridge, Steve Cooper is assisting Elliston, who has also brought in three new players this week – two more from former club Burnham Ramblers.

“I’ve signed brothers Sam and Jack Mead who were on the verge of the first team at Burnham but would rather play Thurlow Nunn Premier football than Essex Senior reserves.

“And I’ve also brought in Liam Daniels from Heybridge Swifts. He’s a goalkeeper and also a goalkeeping coach.”

But Elliston knows he needs results if the Woodpeckers are to survive in Thurlow Nunn Premier this season.

“There is no pressure on us right now,” he said.

“We’re realistic where we are and we will highlight games we think we can get points from and move off the bottom. If we can pick up points against the likes of Brightlingsea, then great.”