Packman fends off 'red card' accusation

SYLVANS coach Richard Packman has refuted Ray Blondel's suggestion that the westerners 'spent too much time trying to get opposition players sent off' in the Stranger Cup final. Sylvans beat Vale on penalties in the cup final three weeks ago and the two sides go head-to-head again tonight in one of the most important Priaulx League matches of the season.

After that recent defeat, during which Blondel's son, Brent, was sent off, the Vale Rec. manager expressed disappointment with 'those people who go to football and seem to be happy only when someone is sent off,' in a thinly-disguised attack on Sylvans players and vociferous coaching staff.

But on the eve of tonight's clash, Packman denied that his club would ever bully a referee into sending off an opponent.

'The only thing I would say is that I'm honest enough to admit when my players have done something wrong and accept the criticism and that's what everybody should do,' said Packman.

'I would never encourage my players or anyone on our bench to try to get someone sent off and if that did occur, I would hope that the referee would take the appropriate action.'

A win at the Corbet Field tonight would take Sylvans to the top of the Priaulx League table, for 24 hours at least.

With the end of the campaign just five weeks away, Sylvans, champions for the last nine seasons, have dropped 11 points, St Martin's have lost 13, Northerners have dropped 15 and Vale 16.

Packman would not accept that three points would all but secure a record-breaking 10th consecutive title.

'There's still quite a long way to go and North are still in with a shout, but a win would be a big, big step in that direction for us.'

Sylvans' former skipper John Nobes will not feature again - an irritating back injury has delayed his return to action after a month-long suspension - but the red-and-whites are otherwise at full strength.

John's brother, Paul, who has been out for eight months after a knee-ligament operation, will be named as one of the substitutes and Steve Brehaut, whose knee injury kept him out of Guernsey's match against the Royal Navy last week, is expected to play alongside Matt Warren in the centre of midfield.

Packman did not confirm his starting side, but said that he was intending to field Tony Vance, Adie Exall and Ryan Tippett together after the attacking experiment worked successfully against Rovers 10 days ago.

'I'm undecided on the exact line-up.

'I want to use all three of them, but I haven't resolved which shape to go with.'

Packman, who has repeatedly labelled Vale's style of play as 'long-ball' since taking over at St Peter's before the start of last season, admitted that the green-and-yellows had caused Sylvans 'too may problems' in the Stranger Cup final, but expected a different match this time around.

'I hope that my players will be able to cope with their predictable style of play. I expect my players to be bright enough and sharp enough to ensure that we come out on top. Vale's way of playing shouldn't be a problem for us.'

Ray Blondel revealed as early as last Friday that he would leave Matt Falla on the substitutes' bench tonight despite the striker's return to fitness.

'We'll just hope to give him another 10 to 15 minutes. We won't start with him,' said Blondel.

Vale hope to have defenders Mark Elliott and Malcolm Symons back from injury, but Jon Eley and Craig Tyrrell are still on the treatment table and Neil Sarahs will probably be work-tied.

Sylvans have won nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions, while Vale have lost just once - penalty shoot-outs aside - in their last nine games in all competitions.

Tomorrow, St Martin's face Rovers at Blanche Pierre Lane and North play Bels at Northfield.