Pitchero Non League

...fire his side up the table.

The Brettsiders pulled off the signings of sharpshooters Stuart Jopling, who was with Debenham LC last season, and Sam Banya, from Ipswich Wanderers, last week.

Jopling, who is still gaining match fitness after not doing a pre-season, played 45 minutes in Hadleigh’s 4-1 defeat at Wisbech Town last Saturday, while much-travelled ex-AFC Sudbury front man Banya, played 80 minutes in last Wednesday’s 7-3 League Challenge Cup preliminary round win over Ipswich Wanderers, which saw Ben Deacon bag four goals.

Last Saturday’s league result left Hadleigh languishing in the bottom third of the table, but Crawford believes the introduction of Banya, 36, and Jopling, 37, will be key to turning their fortunes around.

“Both of those two are winners,” he said. “They both still have the hunger. Jopling played 45 minutes last Saturday and played the same as when I played with him at Needham Market and I am confident they will do well.”

Crawford, whose side host newly-promoted Diss Town on Saturday before getting their Suffolk Premier Cup campaign under way at Leiston on Tuesday, has had a mountain of injury problems, which forced him to name himself on the bench against Wisbech.

But of the ten first-team players out, Ollie Canfer could make a return on Saturday, while Remi Garrett, Jon Ince and Banya are all available.

Shaun French has also signed from Debenham LC but keeper Louis Johnson has transferred to Ryman League Division One North outfit Leiston with Crawford bringing 21-year-old Daniel Heath in.

Heath has previously been with Cambridge United and Histon.

Tags: News | Hadleigh United

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