Wallen takes central role after socks scare

SOCKS nearly scuppered all the carefully-laid plans of Andy Graham and Nick Mahy. The squad the manager and coach had in their minds, re-jigged to cover for the missing Adie Peacegood and Matt Elston, was just about finalised when they heard the news: central midfielder Damian Wallen was a serious doubt for the Worthing clash - he'd put his back out getting dressed.

'It was a strange thing. I aggravated a joint between a rib and my spine which caused spasms all down the left side of my back, so I couldn't bend, turn or twist,' Wallen, 25, said yesterday.

'But I've been to see physio John Brodrick at the Rohais Health Centre and he has worked wonders.'

Adding insult to injury, it was not even a pair of hockey socks Wallen was reaching for, but part of his football kit for an Old Elizabethan match against the college.

While straining his back pulling on socks no doubt caused the odd titter, it could have been an unwelcome headache.

Wallen is in top form, a Colombian still thriving while his club side is failing to match last season's high standards.

'Thankfully, he's not as bad as we first feared. But for a while it looked as if he'd be out,' said manager Graham.

The response would have been to bring Mark Babbe - skipper in Peacegood's absence - infield from his right-midfield berth and to slip Craig Tiffany into Babbe's role; not quite like for like but close enough. However, the vacant spot on the bench would have needed serious consideration.

Alongside sub-keeper Dave Walley will be the Tigers trio of forwards Andy Bell and Dave Enevoldsen and defender Phil Reid, as well as the versatile Tiffany.

Walley has made more headlines in the Jersey Evening Post for turning out for 'the other side' and denying his Sarnian teammates, than he has done here, but deservedly joins the squad after a solid season so far.

It's just one of the positions which has kept Graham and Mahy thinking hard.

Last season's number one, Kees Jager, has temporarily made himself unavailable for island selection. There has been nothing between Jason Robilliard and Adrian Gidney this year, though the former is also unavailable for today's match. And Walley takes a place that could easily have gone to Paul Bullock, the underrated Unwantables keeper who is enjoying a fine spell of form.

Just in front of Gidney, Guernsey line up with only one of last season's regular starting quartet in place - right back Jamie Chambers. Kevin Doyle has left Guernsey, while Peacegood and many people's player of the season so far, Elston, are off island.

Chambers will get forward at every opportunity and remains one of local hockey's most committed players.

On the opposite side of the pitch, Tony Veillard slips easily into the left-back slot, while his brother, Richard, and Tristan Cairns will play at centre back.

Cairns' huge reach makes him a formidable barrier to any opposition ball-carrier, though he is used to playing in a more-advanced role for Colombians.

The Veillard brothers combine smoothly and effectively and more than make up for any perceived lack of pace with positional sense and excellent reading of the game, though again it is usually in the middle of the pitch where they are seen for Yobbos.

At left midfield, the Sarnian management team has plumped for Tim Creasey, the Colombian who more than anyone is playing at the top of his game.

Since his return from his world travels, Creasey has underlined his work ethic and goal-scoring ability with a string of fine performances and goals for the yellows.

Ahead of him is the ever-lively Adam Kitching, always hungry to embarr-ass opposing defenders with his pace and direct running.

The dangerous Nic Chambers' sheer weight of goals demanded that he be picked, while TJ Ozanne is a natural goalscorer, equally effective converting tap-ins or thumping drives from the top of the D. His short-corner drag-flicks are another potent weapon.

Little is known about Guernsey's opponents other than they are better going forward than defending, have an effective selection of short-corner routines and have been known to leak goals.

'That's good to hear, because we have a very attack-minded squad, players who are regularly scoring goals and players who can score from anywhere on the pitch,' said Graham.

* The match at Foote's Lane starts at 3pm. Spectators are welcome.