Pressure on the champions

THE old trophy is still locked away but North can go a long way to winning the Priaulx League championship at the Track today. Beat the champions again and the title will be as good as theirs.

Bels start 11 points behind league leaders North but have two games in hand.

'It's a big game but they are all big games,' said North coach Mick Le Prevost.

'Everyone is up for it. We know what we've got to do.'

Le Prevost dismissed claims that his team could start to relax as they are sitting pretty at the top.

'We're always concerned,' he said.

'We take each game it comes and we can't look at how many points ahead we are. It's an important part of the season as we're now in the run-up to the end.'

The North coach can near enough pick his strongest team, although there are question marks over striker Simon Tostevin, who has an ankle problem, Darren Martin (hamstring) and defender Ollie McKenzie (back).

But Le Prevost says all three key players will start. Someone who will not feature is island under-21 star, Craig Young.

The last league game the midfielder played for the chocolate-and-blues was against Vale Rec at the end of November. Word has it he is disillusioned and has left Northfield to join Tiger City in the Sunday League.

But it's a rumour knocked back by the North boss.

'Craig Young at the moment isn't playing because he's got a lot of work on,' said Le Prevost.

'He's working weekends and work comes first. He hasn't left.

'I can't see Craig leaving North. He's a Northerner. I'd be very surprised if he did.'

For today's match, Le Prevost says Martin will move out of midfield and join Stuart Polson at centre half. His own son Alex will take Martin's place in the central midfield alongside Gavin Le Page.

'We're strong and we've got a strong bench as well,' he said.

Le Prevost's opposite number at Bels Micky Ogier can also choose from a nearly full-strength squad, with Sam Cochrane and Ben Coulter the only noticeable absentees.

Defender Cochrane is still in the UK for work and under-18 star Coulter is out for the rest of the season with a knee cartilage problem.

Island forward Neil Clegg and captain Leighton Chainey have both shaken off ankle injuries picked up last week and will turn out today.

'We've got to win as I think that if we lose because we'll be too far behind them to catch up,' said Clegg.

'We had training last night and the boys are for up it big time. They know how important it is.'

Chainey agreed with his star striker.

'It's a game we've got to win,' he said.