March set to return to action with top-of-the-table clash

March Town look set to return to action next month with their toughest test of the season so far.

The Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League is scheduled to resume on Saturday, December 5 – three days after lockdown.

However, March are one of a few sides who have opted to start the following week, when Ipswich Wanderers are due to visit on Saturday, December 12.

The Hares currently sit in second place in the Division One table, with the Wanderers just two points behind them in third, but with a game in hand.

While Arran Duke’s men boast the attacking potency of Craig Gillies (12 goals in 11 games this season) and Jack Friend (11 in 11), Ipswich have the division’s top scorer in Matthew Blake, who has netted 16 times in 12 appearances.

“If that is our first game back, what a fantastic game to come back to,” said Hares manager Arran Duke.

“December 12 gives us more than a week to train after lockdown finishes (on December 2).”

With the team still unable to train together at the moment, however, Duke is setting his players running and biking tasks, and they have also enjoyed a Zoom session with physio Kelly Rayner.

“It was different, as so many things have been during the pandemic, but all the lads worked hard and it was a good exercise,” he said.

“It looks like there’s a great chance the season will be completed this time.

“It was so frustrating last season to have the season taken away when we were doing so well, but this time, I feel a lot more positive.”

There is good news on the injury front too, with club captain Max Mattless ready to resume training after lockdown following a long spell out through a knee injury and subsequent operation.

The defender, who has made over 250 appearances for the Hares, has been out for over a year. He is running now and getting fitter. When the season resumes he will start out playing for the reserves to get back to match fitness,” said Duke.

Striker Jack Frohawk has been for a scan on his injured knee too and results show he has actually suffered a fractured knee cap, rather than suspected ligament damage, meaning he could be back in the team by late January.