March back in action with visit to Yarmouth

March Town resume their promotion push on Saturday with a trip to the seaside.

After a six-week hiatus because of the second national lockdown, Arran Duke’s men will be keen to continue where they left off in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One North.

The Hares currently sit in third place with nine wins from their ten games. They are just two points behind leaders Fakenham Town, with a game in hand.

“It will be great to be playing football again after the break,” manager Duke told the Citizen.

“We trained three times last week and now we are ready to go again. We were frustrated it came to a stop and now we need to get a rhythm going again.

“Playing football is what we want to be doing and we just have to keep getting points on the board and hope we can finish the season this time.”

March were in one of the promotion places and in two cup finals when the 2019/20 season was declared null and void because of the first national lockdown – but this time around they are safe in the knowledge that points per game will settle league placings if the season is not completed.

March had won six consecutive league games going into lockdown, but Yarmouth did prove troublesome opposition in a 2-1 defeat at the GER back in September, when Jack Friend scored a late winner for the Hares.

Duke added: “That was the first game of the season and we weren’t quite up to speed after a disrupted pre-season because of Covid.

“They were difficult to break down and Great Yarmouth can be a tricky place to visit this time of year.

“It’s right on the seafront, but we don’t care how wet and windy it is, we’ll just be delighted to be playing football again.”

Duke said club captain Max Mattless came through 90 minutes playing for the reserves on Saturday, but needs a few more games for the second string before he is ready for a first team return.

Jack Frohawk is also doing some training after his knee injury, but is not ready to resume playing duties.

“I believe we have the strength in depth we need,” said Duke.

“Having Max and Jack back will be a boost and we also have some good players in the reserves who can step up.”