Focus back on league as Guernsey get HA bye

GUERNSEY have reached the second round of the Harrod UK HA Trophy without hitting a ball in anger. Andy Graham and Nick Mahy's men, who reached the quarter-finals stage last season, were given a bye when the draw for this year's competition was made.

Last season Guernsey won rounds one and two away, beating Lansdown 2-0 and then Epsom

7-1.

They followed that with a 3-0 defeat of Wednesbury at Foote's Lane and then enjoyed an 8-2 goal romp when Leeds visited in round four. However, the away trip to Maidenhead proved too much, the home side winning 5-1.

Jersey also have a week off. The draw for the second round will be made on Monday when the results of all this weekend's matches are known. The second round will be played on Sunday 5 December.

With space left in the fixture list for the scheduled island match, only one Investec Men's Division One match will be played: Clubhouse Unwantables take on Investec Colombians Rebel Alliance.

Unwantables will be expecting to take all three points against a side which has won only once this season and which has conceded 15 goals in their past two games.

For the Rebel Alliance it will be a case of looking to improve on their most-recent performance against tomorrow's opponents, the red-and-blacks winning the match 9-2.

Pace in attack will be key for Unwantables through the likes of Adam Kitching and Phil Ogier. In midfield they have the skill and flair of Andy Alford and promising youngster David Banks to hold the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, a formidable back line including current island captain Adie Peacegood and island right back Jamie Chambers will make life hard for the Alliance forwards.

The biggest threat from Unwantables comes from within their own ranks: they must try to retain their discipline if they are to challenge seriously for the title in the second stage of the league. Too many of their players react badly when they feel decisions have not gone their way.

The Rebel Alliance will need to cut out the errors at the back which have cost them dearly in recent matches - three of the seven goals they conceded against Tigers were down to errors.

The newest side in the top flight have not gelled properly yet as a team. They are a capable and hard-working side, though perhaps are missing one or two extra players to give them a chance of beating the others in the league.

At times they also need inspiration or a player who can do something out of the ordinary in the mould of Unwantables' Alford or Yobbos' Craig Tiffany.

Unwantables should gain three points from this match to keep up their push for second spot in the league ahead of Mosgrove's Yobbos and Investec Colombians One.

In Division Two, Ann Summers Independents and Generals look to be the sides challenging for the title.

Both have yet to lose a match and will look to continue this start as Generals take on Elizabethans, who have had an indifferent start to the season, and Independents face Clubhouse Unwantables Two, who are currently without a win in a competitive fixture this season and should not present a problem.

In the weekend's other competitive fixtures, Beavers play M&G Vets and Mosgrove's Yobbos Two face Senior Vets. Yobbos Two will be looking to win this fixture to keep pressure on the two teams at the top.

In the women's league, Clubhouse Cubs face OSA Amazons, which is sure to be a close match. Push-back at Memorial Field at 11am.

Vixens will be hoping to upset Approved Personnel Panthers' title ambitions when they play at 12.30pm at Memorial Field.

On Sunday, Elizabeth College Under-14 face Puffins at 11am, again at Memorial Field.