Guernsey Press

Saints saving their best for the run-in

THREE victories from their final four games will guarantee St Martin’s their 15th league title.

Published
Leon Meakin. (Picture by Martin Gray, www.guernseysportphotography.com)

Tomorrow evening (5pm kick-off) they entertain Sylvans at Blanche Pierre Lane. Together with a clash against Belgraves a week Wednesday, these remain the two big hurdles to overcome for Leon Meakin’s men, who are hitting the highest notes as they approach the season’s end.

Meakin said he ‘could not agree more’ with the assessment that his side had, over the first period against Manzur on Wednesday night, not played better all season.

‘The first 55 minutes I thought we were excellent, but to keep it up for 90 minutes is difficult on the bigger pitch.

‘I thought we moved the ball quickly and energetically and I was really pleased.’

Epitomised by the dynamism of Ben Coulter, Saints physically ran over a dangerous Manzur side in that first half in which they built up a 2-0 interval advantage.

‘The hunger is there, you can see it in the squad,’ said Meakin. ‘There are people on the bench that are disappointed they are not playing, so those guys who are playing have to put a shift in to keep the shirt for the next game.

‘Four games to go and we have got to win three of them. As I said after the re-start, this post-lockdown period we want to win every game we play and we are looking forward to Sylvans on Saturday.’

In a fierce battle for third spot and Wheway qualification, Sylvans won’t be an easy game.

If any side can match Saints for fitness, perhaps not quite power, it is Martyn de Garis’ men.

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from back page

The Westerners, who bounced back to form last weekend, have held the league leaders twice previously in the league and were only defeated in extra-time in the Jeremie Cup semi which relaunched the season after lockdown 2.0.

In other top-flight games tomorrow Rangers welcome Alderney to St Andrew’s for a game they must win to have realistic hope of avoiding the wooden-spoon which has had their names engraved upon most of the winter.

A home win would put them level on points with two games to go.

Rovers entertain Vale Rec and will go back to the top for a few hours with an expected win, while in-form Northerners entertain Belgraves.