Manager Chris Wright has set his sights on his Leiston St Margarets side being the “best of the rest” in the Senior Division of the Kingsley Healthcare SIL this season.

Player-manager Wright has not been surprised by his side’s success so far, the coastal side sitting in fifth place in the table after winning promotion to the top flight at the end of last season.

Indeed, after an opening day win at home to Ransomes Sports Wright was surprised by how poorly they fared in losing four successive matches and conceding 16 goals in the process.

“I was surprised by how badly we did early on because I knew the players we have got were good enough for this league. We were leaking goals and mentally our players did not have any belief in themselves to play at this level.”

Wright, who was with Leiston for eight years and played in the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League before spending a season with Stowmarket Town and then moving to Leiston St Margarets four years ago, has equally not been surprised by their run of seven league games without defeat.

“Our early-season performances did not reflect how we can play and were nowhere near those of last season, but in the last seven games we have got back to doing what we do well.”

Wright, who is in his second season in the managerial hot-seat, said that this run had come despite being without five or six players through injury, meaning he had only been able to name one of two substitutes. However, he is aiming to build on the side’s impressive form.

“We have got three good strikers in James Blades, who had clubs sniffing around at the start of the season but decided to stay with us, Gav Jennings, who played with me at Leiston in the Ridgeons Premier and Darren Harper, who was top-scorer with Grundisburgh when he was with them.

“Woodbridge Athletic, Grundisburgh and Achilles – the top three – are up there for a reason and are the three teams to beat, but we are aiming to be the best of the rest.”

Leiston St Margarets tomorrow entertain Haughley United, who are one place and one point behind them but have a game in hand.

“They struggled in the first half of last season and then turned it around. They have only lost twice in eleven matches this season so it will be a tough game, but on our day we are a match for anyone,” added Wright.