Concentrate on cup tie, says Tardif

NORTH could be crowned Guernsey champions tomorrow. Geoff Tardif's men are actually in Deloitte Jeremie Cup action at Northfield against St Paul's but the destination of the Priaulx Cup can be decided at St Andrew's.

The only other team remaining in the title race, St Martin's, must beat Rangers; otherwise the chocolate-and-blues will have an insurmountable lead at the top of the table.

But the North coach has his mind only on his side's fixture.

'Obviously, the thing you set out to do is win the league because it proves you are consistently the best side. But I do not want to start contemplating how it will feel if we do win it because you can end up with egg on your face if you do that,' said Tardif.

North should have Michael Wilson back to fitness after he missed the midweek victory over Rangers with a dead leg.

However, Simon Johns is a doubt once again after feeling a twinge in his hamstring on Tuesday night.

Otherwise the squad will be the same as the one that played Rangers and St Paul's should provide them with a stern test.

The side managed by Bill Begbie currently lies fourth in the flybe Combination Division One having lost just two of their 12 matches.

They have also reached the final of the Le Riche Cup after coming from behind to defeat Magpies 2-1 in the recent semi-final.

St Paul's are a young, hard-working side with several under-18s in the first team, including 16-year-old striker Brett Pitman.

The defence includes Lee Bradshaw, 19, who captained Jersey to victory against the Royal Air Force in the South-West Counties Championship two weeks ago, and his fellow island representative, James Fortune.

Another player familiar to Guernsey followers is Glen Durrans, son of St Paul's assistant manager, Paul, who scored in Jersey's 4-1 under-21 Muratti victory last season.

'They have lost only once in the past nine games. It will not be an easy game for either side,' said the Jersey Evening Post football correspondent Andy Bradshaw.

Tardif is relishing the challenge.

'Any team that has played 12 times and lost only twice is no turkey,' he said.

'These are games I like to see our players in, just to test how we are coming along - and it will be a good test.'

In tomorrow's other inter-insular match, Rovers travel to Jersey to face Rozel Rovers in the Collins Cup semi-final at Le Couvent.

Bradshaw described the hosts as a 'fits and starts side' but despite being second from bottom of Division One, they do not concede many goals - only 22 in their 11 league fixtures. Also, their front line is exceedingly quick.

Graham Hockey reported that Rovers would be travelling with a depleted squad.

'It has been bedlam this week. James Chamberlain, Ian Ozanne and Ian Powell have all picked up injuries and I am not sure whether we will see them again this season,' he said.

'Barry Rowson is also doubtful and with Jake Ellis and Keith Quertier leaving on their travels as well, the squad I have had available previously has been reduced quite a lot.

'I know very little about Rozel Rovers, but I would imagine we would have been stronger than them with a full squad and we should still have enough to get a positive result.

'I am going to go into the game really positive but it does not help if you have so many players unavailable,' Hockey added.

There are also two Priaulx fixtures tomorrow.

As well as the Rangers-St Martin's clash, Sylvans host Vale Rec with both sides fighting for a Wheway Cup spot.

The westerners currently sit in third with Ray Blondel's side just a point adrift, although having played two more games.