League is Bels' priority - Sarre

BELS are potentially 90 minutes away from losing all cup interest in this still fledgling season, but the blue-and-whites' president, Hilary Sarre, is not panicking. Whatever the result of Friday night's standout Fletcher Sports FA Cup first-round tie against North at Northfield, Bels' targets for the season remain the same, says the club stalwart.

Bels' starting XIs and form will get better, he promises.

'We think this league is going to be very competitive.

'We have deliberately been holding back on playing a full side in cup games and expect to be stronger as the season goes on.'

Junior Muratti star Ben Coulter has yet to feature in the first team this season as the CI champions come to terms with coping with the GFA's 40-game limit on all under-18s.

Coulter has had to be content with playing Youth One games and one Jackson match, but the Bels president believes it won't be long before the talented midfielder is back enforcing in the first-team engine room.

'We've been deliberately holding Ben back.'

The man who makes Bels tick off the park says he would be more confident of beating North if the game were at the Track, which he refers to as Bels' 'fortress'.

'Most of our best performances happen there.

'But I still believe we can win on Friday night.'

The Bels-North showdown is the highlight of 12 first-round ties spread over four days, the programme starting with Priaulx side Vale Rec hosting Island FM tomorrow.

The radio station team will feature several players with Priaulx experience, but not Adie Exall, who has opted to turn out for Rocquaine United in this competition with the other Sylvans old boys.

The former island striker and one-time Vale Rec star, is not ruling out a shock tomorrow.

'If we sneak an early goal, anything can happen.'

Exall admits Vale's better conditioning could tell in the end.

'I think we will give them a run for a good 45 minutes and with the experience we've got, I hope we will sneak a goal. But after 60 minutes, their extra fitness may tell.'

Island FM include the likes of Gary Fitchet, Liam Davey, Rob Jones, Wayne Cicmic and Carl Wallbridge, as well as veteran frontman John 'Crusher' McGrath.