WOODBRIDGE Town will be looking to shut out Felixstowe and Walton United in tomorrow's Ridgeons League Premier League derby at Notcutts Park.Since Christian Appleford took over as Woodbridge manager his team have kept four clean sheets in nine matches as their plight near the foot of the table has improved.

Elvin King

WOODBRIDGE Town will be looking to shut out Felixstowe and Walton United in tomorrow's Ridgeons League Premier League derby at Notcutts Park.

Since Christian Appleford took over as Woodbridge manager his team have kept four clean sheets in nine matches as their plight near the foot of the table has improved.

Despite being a striker in his playing days, Appleford put the emphasis on defence after taking over from Glenn Read.

“We have reduced the number of sloppy goals that were being conceded and I have concentrated on making us hard to beat,” said Appleford.

Goalkeeper Gary Rose deserves a lot of credit after being brought back in from the wilderness by the new manager.

He started the season as number one, but after being dropped he spent his Saturday afternoons involved in domestic duties and away from football.

But when Ryan Beal took a knock, Rose was called back in by Appleford and he has helped form a strong rearguard.

“It is not quite fortress Notcutt's Park yet,” added Appleford, who moved from joint manager at Metaltec SIL Crane Sports to take over Woodbridge earlier this year.

“We will miss Aaron Churchyard tomorrow, who is suspended, but will have John Sargent, Ollie Canfer, Ben Miller, Chris Pratt and Craig Stuart available.

“Felixstowe have been leaking a few goals lately, but the game will start 0-0 and it will be up to us to break them down.”

A 3-0 home win over Wroxham and a draw at Norwich United on Tuesday when short of nine players will give Woodbridge heart as they take on Glen Driver's Felixstowe.

With Whitton United pulling out of the division, only two sides maximum will be going down this season, and if champions-elect Lowestoft Town move up and Tiptree move side-wards this could be none.

“I want to finish above the bottom two,” said Appleford. “We will have no worries then.

“And then look to next season where I already have an idea of the players I would like to bring in.”

Appleford will take in Crane's big day at Portman Road on Tuesday, March 31 when they take on Beccles Town in the final of the Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup.

“I will pop along and hope to see a Crane win,” he said. “They deserve it.”

Needham Market are at home to Harwich and Leiston entertain Ely City, while in Division One Ipswich Wanderers take on March at Humber Doucy Lane and Stowmarket Town visit Swaffham.

n Needham Market's Bloomfields ground will be the place to be on Tuesday when Ipswich Town visit the Ridgeons League club in the re-arranged semi-final of the LB Group Suffolk Premier Cup.

The winners will play Lowestoft Town in the final at Portman Road on a day still to be announced.

The Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup final between Crane Sports and Beccles Town takes place at Portman Road on Tuesday, March 31 (kick-off 7pm) with the Debenham Leisure Centre Suffolk Junior Cup final between Achilles and holders Old Newton being staged at Ipswich Town's ground on Wednesday, May 6 (kick-off 7pm).