WIVENHOE TOWN player-assistant boss Ray Turner believes his side have achieved a “mini-miracle” in the last year.

Despite having no playing budget, the Dragons swept to last season’s Thurlow Nunn League first division title, losing just three of their 36 games and plundering more than 100 goals.

Now they have made a bright start to life back in the premier division, sitting seventh and having lost just one of their opening ten matches.

“We’d certainly have taken this start to the season, in terms of our league form,” said former Stanway Rovers assistant boss and ex-FC Clacton manager Turner.

“We’re exceeding expectations, certainly in terms of our financial resources compared to other teams.

“In many respects it’s a mini-miracle, what we’ve achieved in the last year or so.

“It’s unfortunate that we haven’t done better in the cup competitions, either this year or last.

“For some reason we don’t seem to turn up in the cups – maybe because of the added pressure of prize money.

“That’s the only thing I can think of, because we seem to start those matches nervously and on edge.

“But our league form has been really encouraging and hopefully we can sustain it as long as possible.”

Turner quit his job as an air conditioning engineer earlier this year to start his own football coaching business.

And with more 40 children on the books at his sessions in West Bergholt, he has now started a group in Rowhedge.

“It’s going very well,” said the 35-year-old. “I feel as though I’ve got a big enough name locally to try and make a go of it and reached a point where I thought ‘it’s now or never’.

“To now do something that I really love and am passionate about feels amazing. It doesn’t feel like work.

“I’m really glad I did it and my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.”

Elsewhere in the premier division, STANWAY ROVERS head to Saffron Walden Town while bottom club FC CLACTON go to Ely City.

BRANTHAM ATHLETIC are in action at Ipswich Wanderers tonight.

In division one, it’s third v second as HOLLAND FC entertain Stowmarket Town.

Leaders COGGESHALL TOWN visit Woodbridge Town and HALSTEAD TOWN head to Framlingham Town.