Meakin is still feeling grumpy
IN THEORY, St Martin’s could return to the top of the FNB Priaulx League table at Northfield tonight.
But like anyone associated with Blanche Pierre Lane, coach Leon Meakin does not see that as a consideration and will be satisfied with just three points.
Meakin said yesterday that both he and his team are still feeling the effects of losing in Alderney and having two men despatched on a miserable trip up north.
A seven-goal win over Northerners tonight would put Saints back on top, but there is fat chance of that happening. One-nil will do as far as Saints are concerned.
Jose Alvarez’s men are finally showing some form and with only one loss in six, last season’s outstanding club have climbed the table to fourth.
Unlucky to lose to Saints at Blanche Pierre at the start of the season, Northerners are displaying greater stability of late, not least due to the growing influence of GFC midfielder Tom de la Mare and their goal-machine Sam Murray.
Meakin reports that he has a full squad to choose from, less their Ridunian naughty boys Cal Le Lacheur and Ben Coulter, who start two and three-game bans respectively.
Keeper Jason Martin is also back from injury for the start of an important week for the black-and-whites. After North tonight, it is a trip to Sylvans on Saturday.
Although Northerners have lost too many games to be regarded as contenders themselves, nobody will ever under-estimate them, not last the Saints coach, who is not at all surprised that the title race has taken in a third contender in Sylvans.
‘It’s kind of where I thought it would be. It’s a very balanced league and I expect teams to keep talking points off one another.’
The latest ‘surprise’ came at the Track on Saturday.
Although a dozen-plus Saints members and fans were in the old stand to see Rovers slip up, Meakin wasn’t around to see it.
‘I was still feeling pretty grumpy from the previous week,’ he chipped, ‘but it was an interesting result’.
‘But if Manzur can get that side out every week they will take some beating. I’m also pleased for Mark [Romeril], he’s had a rough old season.’
North v. Saints kicks off at 7.30pm today at Northfield.
