Nerine under pressure for first home victory
GUERNSEY hosts its first National Clubs League match on Sunday.
GUERNSEY hosts its first National Clubs League match on Sunday. Nerine Trust coach Gill Queripel has called this weekend's fixture with Hillcrest a 'must-win game' for her side as the Guernsey champions look to secure a mid-table finish in what has been a tough campaign.
Nerine have managed one victory, against Notts City, from the four games they have played so far and so they need a good return from their final three fixtures.
'Our main aim is to stay in Division Seven this season, consolidate our place in the NCL, and with the youngsters we have coming through we can build on that in the future. There is no reason why we cannot progress slowly up the league,' said Queripel.
'It is our first time at home. The fact that we do not have to travel is great and the fact that we have only got one game this weekend is great.
'It is just difficult to do, so someone else is going to have that joy. It is going to be good to play someone at home and have that little bit of home-court advantage.'
However, Nerine will have to do without captain Lorna Brown and her daughter Kerri, who are away. On a positive note, Naomi Taylor will be available to take up her place in defence. Sunday's starting team is not lacking in experience, unlike the replacements, though all five are undoubtedly talented. Zola Bourgaize and Lyndsey Bougourd impressed for the full Guernsey side on English Counties League duty
'The age range of the bench is 14 to 17. I hope that they will be involved at some point, if the situation allows it, but I will not do it to the detriment of losing the game,' Queripel said.
Nerine have not faced Hillcrest before but results so far this NCL season suggest that the home side will start as favourites because the visitors have yet to win a game having also played four times.
The Nerine coach is taking nothing for granted.
'I know nothing apart from the fact they come from Croydon and play in navy-and-jade. But they are all tough games in this league. One is always quietly confident going into games but seeing as they are totally unknown to us, we will be treating them with the utmost respect.
'It is going to be hard-fought. It is a totally different game from what we play at home. It will be a game played for an hour solid - you cannot afford to relax at all, even if you get 10 goals ahead, because these sides can take it away from you in a couple of minutes.
'I am sure my girls will do Guernsey proud and, hopefully, we will get loads of spectators cheering us on,' said Queripel.
The match starts at 10.30am at Beau Sejour in the Sir John Loveridge Hall.