Hall out for title run-in and Muratti?
SAM HALL is likely to miss any Upton Park Cup match Rovers book and the Muratti too.
The midfielder was named in Chris Tardif’s 25-strong training squad but was absent from Rovers’ scrappy 2-1 FNB Priaulx League win over North on Saturday when the winning coach revealed his did not expect his star midfielder to play again this season, what little is left of it.
Asked where Hall was, Rovers coach Jez Robin said: ‘Sam, I don’t think he’ll play again this season. It’s a blow.
‘He has been struggling for a while [with a groin injury] and he was probably kidding himself that he could start against Rec and I think he finished it off.’
Robin’s men play Manzur tonight, Vale Rec on Thursday and then the crunch with St Martin’s on Saturday afternoon. He admitted his side are struggling a little, but was happy with the performance that ultimately knocked North out of the title race.
‘I thought we played well and kept control, maybe a little panicky at the end, but that was understandable with the pressure and things.
‘I think it [anxiety] was on the back of Tuesday [against Vale Rec]. We were disappointed with our performance and spoke about it. At 2-0 we perhaps relaxed too much and when they scored the whole team felt they were too panicky, reacting to the goal instead of keeping calm and trying to build things.
‘North had to win, played six across the middle at times, but I thought we did well.
‘We have still got to win our last three games.’
North may be out of it, but can have a big say in who comes out on top.
They play St Martin’s at Blanche Pierre Lane tonight, while in a third FNB Priaulx League clash, Vale Rec entertain struggling Sylvans at the Corbet Field.
