LOWESTOFT Town club notes by Terry LynesTHE eagerly awaited Christmas local derby attracted the biggest crowd for a league game at the Crown Meadow for 40 years.

LOWESTOFT Town club notes by Terry Lynes

THE eagerly awaited Christmas local derby attracted the biggest crowd for a league game at the Crown Meadow for 40 years.

Not since the late 1960s have over 1,500 fans passed through the Crown Meadow gates for a league fixture. There have been bigger attendances for cup games and prestige friendlies but not for the bread and butter affair of league games.

Saturday's 1,523 crowd witnessed a tension packed fixture which the Blues deservedly won by the odd goal of three. Second half goals by Darren Cockrill and Russell Stock put the Blues in charge and Allicon Blake's consolation came too late to affect the result despite over six minutes of added time being played.

Massive games are coming thick and fast for the Blues now. On Saturday there is another top three fixture with Town travelling to Leiston. This will be the third meeting of the season between the two clubs, with both sides having won one game each.

The Blues inflicted the only defeat of the season so far on Leiston at the Meadow but the visitors got their revenge when the sides met again at the Meadow in the League Cup.

Jamie Godbold is unavailable for tomorrow's game and Neil Plaskett is not fully fit yet after his knee operation.

There is more Ridgeons League football on Tuesday when Norwich United are the visitors to Crown Meadow, kick off 7.45pm.Although the Planters languish in second from bottom place in the league they have recently appointed the experienced duo of Paul Chick and Donny Pye as their new management team.

The last two of the long term casualties - Carl Poppy and Matty Potter - have both started training again after their long lay offs and one of them may play for the reserves tomorrow when they travel to Haverhill Rovers Reserves in the second round first leg of the Chell Trophy.

The Youth team suffered the cruel fate of going out of the Eastern Junior Cup on penalties away to Soham Town Rangers after the game finished goalless after 120 minutes. Thursday sees a return to league action with a visit to North Walsham Town Youth.