Guernsey aim to build on the feel-good factor

In a week that begun with Bex Hubbard’s side progressing in their national knockout competition thanks to Sunday’s penalty shoot-out victory over Surbiton Lionesses, Andy Good says his team can end it in similar fashion at Footes Lane.

‘I went to watch the ladies’ game, I thought they did really well. It was a tight, tough game, but they held it together well and we should take confidence from their performance,’ said the Guernsey men’s coach.

‘But we have to concentrate on ourselves and we have got a lot of experience in this competition, we have players who have played a lot of games at this level and we must take confidence from that too.

‘We are an experienced hockey team and a good one, so if we get things right on the day and we get that bit of luck you need, hopefully the result will go our way.'

UEA are fourth in East Men’s Division One North having won eight, drawn two and lost three of their 13 games this campaign.

They have reached the last 16 of the Tier Two Championship, having beaten Wisbech Town 6-2 in the first round and overcoming Old Merchant Taylors on a penalty shoot-out in the second round after their tie ended 3-3.

‘They are obviously a decent side – they would not have got to the last 16 of this knockout if they weren’t,’ said Good.

‘I imagine they will be along the same lines as our Students side [who play in the Nomads game at Christmas]. They will be made up of guys who are 20-21 years old, so physically they will be pretty strong.

‘They are going to be a good, solid hockey team who are well-prepared, with a decent set of set-pieces.

‘The unknown is whether they have the quality of a Lewis Perfitt or an Andy Oxburgh, who we have played in our student games – and obviously we did not beat our students when we played at Christmas, so that high-intensity, physical, running game is something we have to cope with better.’

As well as Sam Dawes, who missed the previous round at Crawley through injury, Guernsey welcome back Jonny Clark to their ranks in the place of his Yobbos teammate Steve Eulenkamp.

‘Steve is a bit unlucky because he played well in the last game and has been doing well for Yobbos, but if Jonny Clark is available, he is in our top 16 players,’ Good said.

‘We are lucky to have a good squad and lots of players to choose from.

‘Jonny has had a few injuries and just cannot train and play every week, but he can play anywhere across the back four and in midfield, too.

'He has that ability to play in a variety of positions and he offers us that flexibility we like to have.’

Guernsey hockey development officer Sam Watson retains his place in the squad and will be coming up against his alma mater.

‘Sam is very much looking forward to the game and I’m sure he will know a lot of their guys, but he is here now, he is playing for us and I’m sure he is fully focused on doing a good job for us.’

• Guernsey v UEA starts at 1pm tomorrow at Footes Lane.

Guernsey squad

Jake Le Marchant (GK), Adrian Peacegood (captain), Tom Still, Alex Bushell, Sam Watson, Zak Damarell, Matt Stokes, Ant Stokes, Cameron Rivers-Moore, Josh Kendal, Sam Dawes, Tim Ravenscroft, Tom Cashin, Andy Whalley, Sean Donaldson, Jonny Clark.