Inadvertent scouting mission invaluable

A SCOUTING mission last season may have given Guernsey a delayed advantage ahead of Sunday's away match at Staines. When Andy Graham and his squad flew to the UK a day early for their HA Trophy quarter-final match with Maidenhead in March 2004, they took advantage of the spare time to sneak along to watch the next day's opponents in league action.

What they saw could not prepare them for the vigour of the Maidenhead short-corner routine or playing on a water-based astro, but the memory of that league clash has been stored and is now being put to good use.

That match was Maidenhead v. Staines - who stand between Guernsey and a place in the last 16.

'We know quite a bit about them.

'We have played only one team more than once in the HA Trophy and it's Staines,' said Graham.

'The games have always been very close: we have never beaten them by much and they have never beaten us by much.'

Staines' biggest local rivals are Ashford whom Guernsey beat in last season's competition, 'so Staines are fully aware of Guernsey', said Graham.

'We saw them last season, when we went to play Maidenhead.

'They were playing a league match the day before our HA match and we took the opportunity to do a bit of scouting.

'Staines played a long-ball game that day and had a very good drag-flick routine at short corners. So that's what we have to prevent: we have to stop that long ball and if we foul, do it outside the 25.'

It will be a tough task. Guernsey have played only once so far and that was a scrappy 2-1 defeat of Worthing at Foote's Lane.

'It is a big step up from the last game.

'We really need a win. Both Nick Mahy and I believe that the side is inches away from playing brilliantly,' said Graham.

'What went against us was the first-round bye; we would have liked to have had another game - if we win this one we are in the last 16.

'We always play awfully in our first match then we improve as the opponents get stronger.

'But we have stepped straight into the last 32 against one of the strongest sides in the competition. We are confident. We can't play as disjointedly again as we did against Worthing.'

Injury and unavailability have robbed Graham of several players who could have forced their way into the squad, though he still has a strong starting outfield.

Adie Peacegood and Matt Elston return to the back line as Tony and Richard Veillard are missing.

The midfield and front row are likely to be the same as faced Worthing. Only three substitutes travel - Phil Reid, Craig Tiffany and Luke Hayden-Smith, Yobbos' new signing.

'We have also been looking at Neil Wood, who plays in the centre for Unwantables; he has been getting better and better but he is unavailable for the match because it's his mother's 50th birthday,' said Graham.

'Neil could quite easily push his way into the midfield but in this case we are taking the 14 that are available.

'We've got a good squad of players and there's no one in there who does not deserve a chance.

'The fringe players will be getting keen as it gets closer to the inter-insular.'