North have big fan in Philpott

NORTH are the best team in the Channel Islands, says First Tower coach Dave Philpott. His side were hammered 6-3 by the Priaulx League leaders in the Wheway Cup on Saturday, the second time they have lost by three goals to the chocolate-and-blues this season, and he wants to see Geoff Tardif's men face the Caesarean table-toppers, Jersey Scottish, in the final.

'I would say North are on a par with Scottish and it would be a cracking final if they make it,' said Philpott.

'Both like to play football, but I think North are more of a team. They have that understanding of having played together through the ranks at the club.'

Back in October, Tower were defeated 3-0 at Northfield in the Jeremie Cup so Philpott knew what to expect second time around.

'They played some tremendous football that day and I was hoping we had learnt from it when we went one up early on Saturday, but we just did not defend well at all. It could have been 6-6 - it was one of those games.

'We have got a lot of pace up front and we caused them problems but we defended badly.

'The last 20 minutes of the first half was bad for us and good for North, they played some excellent stuff and at half-time with North 4-1 up, we went in and said if we did not get our act together they would trounce us.

'At the start of the second half North scored two quick goals and that was game over, but to our credit we pushed forward, got a couple of goals and had other chances.

'It was a good game, well contested but North took their chances and deserved to win,' Philpott said.

Tardif rated Saturday's display as 'one of the top five since I have been in charge'.

'The whole way through I could not fault them. The defence was solid, the midfield was creative and inventive and the forwards caused them a lot of problems,' he said.

'Performances like that you would like to bottle.

'Okay you might look at it and say we let in a couple of goals later on, but that comes from just trying to play the game as it should be played. We brought Stuart Polson on for a calming influence and the lads responded immediately to him.

'Overall, I was very pleased.'

The North coach had special praise for hat-trick hero AJ Saunders.

'It was nice for Antony to get three and they were all different types of goal. He scored one where he rolled his defender and got his shot away well, one was a header and the other was a poacher's goal.

'He also hit a brilliant 25-yard volley, which was well saved. Their goalkeeper made three top-drawer saves.'

But the chocolate-and-blues have little time to reflect on their superb win in Jersey.

Tonight they return to Norman Piette Priaulx League action with Grand Fort Road neighbours Vale Rec the opposition.

The game is scheduled for the Corbet Field, but Northfield is on standby should the Vale ground be unplayable.

This evening's other fixture is St Martin's against Rovers at BPL.