LITTLE Oakley’s footballers can lay down a marker this weekend.

That’s the view of joint-boss Paul Sadler, looking ahead to tomorrow’s key Essex and Suffolk Border League contest at home to Holland FC.

Oakley were premier division runners-up last season and Holland finished fourth, but it was the coastal side who won both league meetings between the sides – prevailing 2-1 at the Memorial Ground and 4-2 at Eastcliff.

“We know we can defeat them, because we won our Border League Knockout Cup semi-final against them,” said Sadler.

“But they beat us twice in the league and, overall, we didn’t fare well against teams from the top three or four.

“That’s something we certainly hope to improve on this season.

“We know we have to compete with the best teams in the league, to stand any chance of competing for the title, and we could lay down a bit of a marker by winning tomorrow.”