Machlowski would be my No. 1 in Priaulx League XI

FOR the second season running, football fans have hit upon an intriguing, closely contested Priaulx League championship.

Bels will win it, of that I am now sure, and if they are at their best on Upton day, may well be good enough to keep the old trophy in the island.

But at the College Field last Saturday, Glyn Smith's men were 10 minutes away from potentially blowing the title.

Just as was the case the previous Saturday on the same ground, Rangers were producing a performance of commendable organisation, grit and real threat, even without star striker Dale Garland.

And, as was the case against Vale Rec who were turned over 4-1,

one man stood out – their Polish goalkeeper Jacob Machlowski.

As notable a judge of players as Steve Sharman, was astounded by Machlowski's brilliance and wanted to know more about the player who was spurned by Bels because they already had two decent No. 1s and has spent much of this season playing right-back or right midfield in a Rangers side that has rarely resembled the XI of the previous game and was rarely close to strength.

I have not seen Machlowski's combined two performances this month bettered by a goalkeeper in domestic football for quite a while, perhaps not since Lee Savident left many open-mouthed in amazement with a showing for Tics in a Stranger Cup win over North about three seasons ago.

For those of you who have not yet seen the East European, he is no taller than Jody Bisson, the Vale Rec and former island star, but has superb agility, great spring and handling, and his distribution from hand and with his trusted right-boot is exemplary.

I have no hesitation in claiming he is the best non-GFC keeper in the domestic game, only Chris Tardif and James Hamon being better.

But, I tell you what.

If you want versatility in a substitute, Machlowski is your man, because he is a very capable outfielder too.

Coach Paul Ockleford, who is a big fan of the lorry driver, said he has played him in various positions down the right and even up front in one game.

'He does not mind playing in or out. He's got a lovely attitude and is a real attribute to Rangers.'

Ockleford reckons he is as good as there is locally, Tardif and Hamon aside.

'I would say he is right up there and his technical ability is really good, as is his positioning and shot-stopping. It's brilliant.

'He is small but he has got a great leap on him. His distribution is good too. He could play on the island side, there is no doubt.'

*

Pondering who is the best domestic No. 1, got me thinking which other players would make my best regular Priaulx XI.

In the time it takes a ref to get a defensive wall back eight yards – well it is never 10 – I came up with a side that highlights a fairly equal spread of talent among most of the sides.

Because there appears to be no outstanding left-back, I have opted to play with three at the back.

Here is the team in 3-4-3 mode and a full bench:

Jacob Machlowski (Rangers); Damien Larkin (Vale Rec), Ross Elliott (Vale Rec), Chris Le Cheminant (North); Simon Marley (Bels), Joby Bourgaize (Bels), Craig Young (Bels), Scott Bougourd (North); Stuart Roussel (North), Simon Tostevin (North), Marc McGrath (St Martin's).

Subs: Rhys Gower (Bels), Tom Strawbridge (St Martin's), Dave Parrott (Rangers), Wayne Bishop (Bels), Dale Garland (Rangers), Robbie Williams (Bels), Craig Mollet (North).

*

CRAIG CULKIN, the Jersey football coach, is seldom slow in coming forward with forthright opinions and we media types love sports-people like him.

This past week he has been casting grave doubts as to the long-term viability of Guernsey FC and also laying into Alderney as wrongly enjoying home Muratti advantage every year.

Last first, I tend to agree with him on the Alderney issue and it is high time the Ridunians did emerge from the comfort zone Culkin (pictured) talks about.

In fact, I would go farther than the Jersey coach and suggest that as well as losing this automatic home advantage each year, Alderney make more strenuous efforts to better themselves and make this century-old inter-island competition less of a doddle than it is for the greens and the reds.

Alderney should be playing in the Priaulx League and should challenge themselves to make it happen.

The League Management Committee meanwhile, should look at ways of accommodating them at that level.

Alderney will, of course, plead poverty and say they cannot possibly afford to play a full Priaulx League programme. They may even say they are too weak.

You can sympathise with them on the former, but certainly not the latter because to my mind if they are not good enough to be playing in the Priaulx alongside the likes of Rovers, what the hell are they doing playing internationals against Guernsey and Jersey?

With a bit of effort on their part, Alderney are good enough to play in the Priaulx.

Likewise, with support from the LMC and some back-up Guernsey-based players, they can play a full Priaulx League programme, especially if the schedule reverts from this nonsensical playing each other four times, to a more reasonable three or, dare I say it, two.

For the latter to happen I guess the LMC needs to find at least two other local sides to bolster the Priaulx to 10 teams, meaning an 18-match league programme, plus the various cups.

For the immediate future I would settle on an eight-team Priaulx with Alderney on board and everyone playing three times, meaning 21 league fixtures.

In time, that eight might reasonably become 10 if the Guernsey College Academy of Football is the success we all hope it is, and perhaps an ambitious side emerges from within the IAG Saturday League.

I must admit to being a little puzzled by Culkin's latest stance on whether a Jersey FC should be created, though.

Culkin has previously openly supported the Green Lions' ambitions, but after this week's Uefa Regions Cup tournament in which the Caesareans showed they are far from a fading force, he seemed unconvinced and negative towards GFC's long-term survival.

His argument that sooner or later GFC players would demand to be paid and then the project would then become unsustainable, was wrong and mischievous, even if it was said with no malice intended.

The men behind GFC know full well that paying to play would be the wrong move for their club and they are insightful enough administrators not to score these sorts of own goals.

Perhaps Culkin's reluctance to back many Jersey players who want to follow GFC into the national leagues and enjoy the new challenges, may have something to do with uncertainty as to how much he could commit to it. If that is the case, he should be open and say so.

If he simply believes such a path is wrong, then fair enough.

He, like everyone, is entitled to his view but I guess he's simply playing political niceties for his JFA superiors.