Can Saints march to Priaulx League title?

THERE is a quiet feeling of optimism hanging around Blanche Pierre Lane. For the last two seasons St Martin's have finished a disappointing fifth in the Priaulx, but this year they have got to be considered as one of the top three along with league holders North and Bels.

Why? Because of the signings they've secured over the summer.

The black-and-whites picked up one of the hottest young talents around in Ben Coulter, who has also been joined at the club by his former Bels teammate, Charles Pinsard.

Added to the fact that young defender Jamie Dodd has returned to them from North, they have also obtained centre forward Danny Felbabel from Sylvans.

In addition newly arrived in the island Jason Winch has put pen to paper for them. The winger used to ply his trade for Worthing and for Sussex under-18s.

You could say that Saints boss Colin Fallaize is a happy man.

'I'm absolutely delighted,' said Big Fal.

'Last year we worked with a pretty thin squad and I think we did all right. Now we've got a few fresh faces around the place and that in itself should bring people out of their comfort zone.

'I hope that people will see their positions under threat. Obviously Ben Coulter and Charles Pinsard are huge assets and Jason Winch is a nice acquisition.

'He has a nice left foot and if things go all right, he should be useful to us. I'm very pleased to have picked up Jamie Dodd, who is an ex-Saint, and Danny Felbabel I'm really chuffed to have.

'I see Danny giving us a bit of competitive edge in an area where we needed to get that extra competition. Pre-season has been really, really good.

'We've had great numbers and there's a good spirit.'

Fallaize also stated that some old faces such as Kevin Gilligan, Mark Coutanche and Luke Allen could be making appearances this season.

The coaching side of things has also been strengthened with Glyn Smith coming in to lend a hand.

Fallaize now has options all round the park. Coulter and Pinsard will strike up a partnership in the centre of midfield, with Simon Geall and Liam Roffey backing them up.

On the flanks Chris Mauger, who broke into the island set up last season, will take the right-hand side while Winch looks set for the left.

Captain Kevin Graham will marshal the centre of defence to be joined by Dodd, Richard Herpe or Sam Rowe.

The hero of the 2004 Muratti, Nathan Pattimore, will be first choice between the sticks but his understudy, Alex Hockey, showed that he was more than capable of filling his shoes when Pattimore was out for an extended period last season.

But where Saints have struggled since Neil Clegg left them in 2003 is that they have missed an all out goal scorer.

They have talent up front with Will Thompson, island star Dominic Heaume and now Felbabel.

Yet Heaume's skill is sitting off the centre forward to create chances and to come in from deep and Felbabel, who is at his third club in three years after coming up from the Sunday and Business leagues, is still relatively unproven at this level. Saints do lack a 'fox-in-the-box' but Graham says this is not a problem.

'I think we've got three good front men with Dom, Danny and Will,' said the captain.

'With the three of them we've got a mix of different types of player. They are a good three to rotate.

'And I expect the likes of Charlie Pinsard to pop up with some goals.'

Saints must be looking to improve on last season's fifth-spot finish.

They also suffered the major heartache of losing in the final of the Fletcher Sports FA Cup but they did get their hands on the Collins Cup.

And word is going about that with all their new signings, they could be challenging for the Priaulx that they most recently won in 2004. But Fallaize is refusing to lay his neck on the line.

'It's not about making predictions... but I suppose we can challenge North and Bels,' he said.

Graham on the other hand is looking at a top-three finish.

'If we don't get a Wheway spot, I'd be disappointed,' he said.

'We've just got to get a good start and build from that.'