Trinity favourites but Vale upbeat

VALE REC enter today's Upton as underdogs. The Priaulx League champions, chasing their first Upton win for 15 years, face Trinity at Springfield this afternoon with most experts in both islands giving them very little chance of victory. Vale will be without four key offensive players, while Trinity will be at full strength. But Vale's stand-in coach Chris Hamon yesterday declared, after naming his starting team, that his team was relaxed and confident ahead of its biggest-ever game.

'Everyone is nice and calm and composed,' he said. 'You'd expect some knots and worries at this stage, but we've managed to keep the lads calm, which is certainly a positive.'

Hamon, who in the absence of coach Ray Blondel selected the team along with John Reid, hasn't bothered to keep his starting XI under wraps.

He has recalled Matt Patch, who went travelling earlier this season and hasn't played for Vale since December, and there is also a surprise place for wide-midfielder Dave Woodhead, who was selected ahead of Jamie Blondel and Gavin Bougourd, both of whom were left on the bench.

Brent Blondel has pipped David MacNab to the second striker's berth alongside leading scorer Danny Bisson.

Captain Jody Bisson was an automatic choice in goal, while the defenders are Neil Sarahs, Mark Elliott, Jon Eley and Malcolm Symons. Patch and Woodhead will be joined by Jon Baudains and Tony Manning in midfield.

'We'll start in a basic 4-4-2 shape, but that will change pretty soon after kick-off. The team is flexible and can adapt to the conditions of the match.'

Vale's last training session before the big game was on Thursday night.

'We looked at set pieces and ran through final bits and pieces. We had some fun at the end and everyone's fine and raring to go.'

On his one-off return to the dugout, Hamon said: 'I know the players well and I know what Ray expects in the Upton. He obviously feels that I can look after the squad - which will be a great honour - and he is confident that we can go down there and get a result.'

Before leaving the island for a golfing trip to the UK, Blondel said of Hamon: 'I can't think of anyone better than Chris to represent Vale Rec in an Upton.'

Vale will fly to Jersey at 10.30 this morning and will return by plane at 7.30 tonight. The match, which was originally advertised as kicking off at 2.30pm will start at 2pm.