Matt comes out smiling
A DEPRESSED Matt Le Cras very nearly gave up football at the start of the season, but his rampant form in the Sylvans front line since the turn of the year has propelled him to the player-of-the-month award for February.
A DEPRESSED Matt Le Cras very nearly gave up football at the start of the season, but his rampant form in the Sylvans front line since the turn of the year has propelled him to the player-of-the-month award for February. Le Cras, the hero of the 1999 extra-time Muratti win at the Track, said he owes a big favour to Sylvans manager Joel Avery and team-mate Tony Vance, for keeping him in the game.
'I went through a rough stage and they talked me out of it,' said the former island striker, who is targeting a Muratti return.
'I made a new year resolution that I wanted to get back to my old ways.
'I'd like to get my Muratti place back. If not this year then next.'
Avery said Le Cras has been a revelation and confirmed that he wondered if he would have him available at all at the start of the season.
'He was so down at the start but now he's playing like he can do.
'He's bounced back and he's been in great form.
'He's enjoying it again,' said Avery whose side will move three points nearer the Cable & Wireless Priaulx League title with three points at home to Vale Rec tomorrow.
Of Sylvans' remaining four games the league table suggests that the Vale match represents the westerners' biggest challenge.
Avery welcomes Ian Potter back to the side after missing the last two games but the manager has concerns whether the game will go ahead at all.
'The pitch is very wet. We trained on it on Tuesday and the training pitch was under water.'
Avery said he gave his team a rollicking after struggling to beat Rovers 2-1 last Saturday.
'North won't slip up so we've got to be on our game, not like last Saturday. Afterwards I told them a few home truths.'
The boss is clear where the main threat lies tomorrow and it comes in the form of former Sylvans player-coach, Trim Morgan.
'He's a class player.
'We have to stop him - he makes them tick. He's 80% of their side.'
Meanwhile, Vale boss Chris Hamon has defended Morgan after his red card against Rangers last weekend.
Referee Mark Fallaize claimed the Vale playmaker was sent off for raising an arm, but Hamon said that was just impossible.
'There is no way he would have swung an arm under the two challenges he was hit by in quick succession. He was going to ground.
'We will see what the ref's report says but Trim gets our backing on this one.'
Hamon may well have as many as four Youth Two players in the squad for the Sylvans game.
Ben Whitchurch, Emile Thompson and Mark Ramsden all started in the Rangers match while keeper Andrew Rigden was on the bench.
Hamon says their collective introduction has been forced on him.
'It's a lack of players because of injuries and one thing or another.'
