STANWAY ROVERS boss Angelo Harrop has vowed not to get too excited about his side's promotion chances this season.

After finishing third last term - and challenging for the title until the latter weeks of the season - the club are among the hot favourites for Thurlow Nunn League glory.

Their recent form supports that claim, with four straight premier division wins being complimented by victories in both the Essex Senior Cup and League Challenge Cup.

However, Harrop is not getting carried away and wants his players to stay similarly level-headed going into tomorrow's home match against Kirkley and Pakefield.

"I don't panic when things aren't going well and I don't get too excited when they are," said the Rovers boss, whose side eliminated Holland FC from the League Challenge Cup on Tuesday night.

"That's something I've learnt in my time doing this job.

"When you panic, you tend to make bad, rash decisions which turn out to be detrimental to the team.

"It's better to stay calm and trust your judgement.

"The players know their jobs and responsibilities and even when things weren't going our way at the start of the season, I knew they would turn it round."

Stanway are sixth in the table - five points behind leaders Mildenhall.

Elsewhere, WIVENHOE TOWN will hope to put their Essex Senior Cup exit at Barking behind them when they welcome Ipswich Wanderers to the Maple Tree Cars Stadium.

FC CLACTON have no game this weekend.

This weekend's division one programme kicks-off tonight with a derby between COGGESHALL TOWN and BRAINTREE TOWN RESERVES.

Coggeshall still have a one-point lead at the top of the table but they have lost their last couple of games.

The last side to beat them were Framlingham Town and they visit HOLLAND FC tomorrow.

Holland joint-boss Glenn Cowen believes his players are responding well to the challenge of step six football.

The side, promoted from the Essex and Suffolk Border League last season, have made a strong start to life in the Thurlow Nunn League.

They are fifth in division one, following an impressive 3-0 victory against Haverhill Borough on Saturday.

It was their fifth win in eight league matches.

“It was a good win at the weekend and an added bonus to keep another clean sheet,” said Cowen, who runs the side with Rob Batten and coach Paul Abbot.

“I still think we can play better, but it was a very decent result against a side that had just beaten (early league leaders) Coggeshall Town 3-0.

“It maintained our strong start to the season.

“The boys are responding well and taking it very seriously.

“We’re very happy with the start we’ve made but we’re very aware there’s a long way to go.”