Football: Promotion race hots up for Stowmarket Town

Ridgeons League First Division leaders Cambridge University Press gave Stowmarket Town an unexpected midweek boost.

They suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at Godmanchester and failed to build on their four-point lead at the top of the table.

Stow have three games in hand but now have a cluster of four teams within four points of them, some from fewer games.

And on Saturday, despite a 4-0 win in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Town need to avoid complacency against a Halstead team who had won four matches in a row and six in seven before suffering defeats against Gorleston and, last week, 6-0 at Whitton.

Stow's 4-0 defeat at Gorleston last week was their first in the league since October and they will be keen to bounce back.

In the Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League, the pick of the action is in the Senior Division where bottom team Haughley United will be fired up to earn their first win of the season at second-bottom Coplestonians.

There are two local teams in home action seeking a place in the semi-finals of the Club Colours Cup. Cedars Park Reserves take on Claydon Reserves, while Old Newton United A meet Stonham Aspal A.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday, February 5
Ridgeons League (3pm)
First Division: Stowmarket Tn v Halstead Tn.
Reserve North Division: Needham Mkt Res v Stowmarket Tn Res.

Kingsley Healthcare Suffolk & Ipswich League (2.30pm)
Senior Division: Coplestonians v Haughley Utd; Stanton v Old Newton Utd.
Intermediate A: Old Newton Utd Res v Woodbridge Ath Res.
Intermediate B: Haughley Utd Res v East Bergholt Utd Res.
Division 2: Sporting 87 v Salvation Army.
Division 4: Salvation Army Res v Aldeburgh Tn.
Division 5: Westerfield Utd A v Cedars Park.
Club Colours Cup, quarter-finals (2pm): Cedars Park Res v Claydon Res; Old Newton Utd A v Stonham Aspal A.

Sunday, February 6
Flare Recruitment Ipswich Sunday League (10.30am)
Premier Division: Capel Plough v Unicorn.
Division MB3: Stage Security EU v Wetherden 08.
Division RM4: Shotley Rose Res v Riverside.
Division RM5: Stowmarket All Stars v Eastern Electricity OB.

Frames Conservatories Direct Bury Sunday League (10.30am)
Division 2: Rougham Lions v Stow Excelsior.
Division 3 KO Cup: Real BSE v Buxhall Utd.

Norfolk & Suffolk Veterans League (2pm)
Division 1: Stowupland Falcons v Horsford.
Division 3: Brantham Ath v Chilton.