Vale Rec 'cannot afford to lose' says coach

The top two – who are level on points – meet at the Corbet Field in the second of three pivotal Grand Fort Road league derbies, but with North having played a game less and also in better form, Rec coach Bougourd agrees that the pressure to earn a positive result looks to be far greater for his side.

'The overwhelming feeling we have ahead of this game is that we cannot afford to lose because if we do, it is extremely likely that North will win the league,' he said.

'If we win or draw then it is still open because we still have to play them again next month, but falling three points behind and with them having a game in hand would be too much.

'The massive difference is that I don't see a single other side in the league that is going to take points off of North for the remainder of the season because nobody has come close to doing so in recent games.

'Rovers beat them right at the start of the season, but the more games that go by that North are winning convincingly, that looks very much like a freak result.

'North have done what they always do, they have put their foot down and gone on a good run of wins, which is something that doesn't look as likely that we can produce.'

Coach William Woodford does not believe that the league will be decided tonight, regardless of the outcome, but says that his side can really take the initiative with a win.

'I suppose there is a little bit more pressure on Rec because that game in hand we currently have could be quite significant,' he said.

'But it won't be finished tonight whoever wins, although we are top of the table after last weekend's win and are keen to cement that status here.

'We are playing well at the minute, even though our finishing was wayward at Sylvans last weekend, so we are confident we can maintain that form and get the three points.'

Tonight's match kicks off at 7.30pm.

• More in Thursday’s Guernsey Press.