Priaulx League lead could change hands again

Bels could end the day two points clear at the top of the Priaulx should they claim a victory on the road, while a win for Romeril’s Rec would see them go level on points with Rovers at the summit of the league.

‘It’s a game that I think both sides will use as a good measure for where they really are,’ said Bels boss Le Friec.

‘A win for us would be massive, so we need to be really up for it and keep our momentum going.

‘Rec will provide us with an extremely tough test – they have recovered well since the North defeat and have technical players all over the pitch that we will have to be wary of.

‘They are also a side that definitely have goals in them, however I would say I am going into this game with a lot of confidence.'

The Vale Rec head coach shared Le Friec’s sentiments about the importance of the clash, and said that ‘whoever wins will be in a great position'.

‘It’s going to be tough. You have to give Bels a lot of credit for how they have started the season, winning four out of five games.

‘We’re looking good ourselves, though, and we do come into the game off the back of that win at Sylvans and the crazy win over St Martin’s.

‘We do not want to look too far ahead, but I think it is in the back of everyone’s minds that a win would be big for us.’

This afternoon’s fixture is the first of three games within the space of a week for the Corbet Field side, as they make the short trip across the road to Northfield for another Grand Fort Road derby on Tuesday night before playing Rangers in the Priaulx next Saturday.

‘Numbers have been great recently, so we will definitely be using the squad over the course of the week and I’m sure everybody will be ready to go,' Romeril said.

In today’s other Priaulx League fixture, Rangers welcome Alderney to the KGV as both teams look to start making ground in the league.

‘We are feeling good – we have a few players missing, which is disappointing, but it is one of those games that is winnable for us, we have to be looking to take home some points,’ said Rangers manager Chris Tardif.

‘As a squad and as individuals, a result is what we need. We have not had the best of starts, but we are definitely improving and this will be a good marker of where we are.

‘Alderney will be well set-up, they will be aggressive, they will not give up and they will have a great attitude.

‘Those are all things that we are trying to instil within the group, and in that Rovers game those are the things which we really lacked.

‘A lot of the players gave up in that one, so we are looking for a big response from the group to prove that it was just a blip.’

Alderney have failed to pick up a point in the Priaulx since their opening day triumph at Sylvans, while Rangers come into today’s fixture searching for their first result of the season.

Jason Leaman’s St Martin’s have experienced mixed fortunes in the league in the past few weeks, but they are the only Sarnian outfit involved in the Jeremie Cup semi-finals after beating St Brelade last month.

They welcome in-form Grouville to Blanche Pierre Lane this afternoon, with a kick-off time of 12.30pm.

The two teams have already met this season, as Grouville ran riot over the Wheway Cup holders in that competition with an 8-2 victory.

Grouville also experienced success on their first trip to Guernsey this season, eliminating North from the Jeremie Cup in a 5-2 win.

The winner of today’s last-four clash will face either St Clement or St Peter in the final.

Meanwhile, Port Soif prepares for something of an ‘in-house’ weekend as the Rovers first team take on their Vets side in the Guernsey FA Cup this afternoon and tomorrow the club’s third team face their under-18s in the Railway Shield.

TODAY’S FIXTURES

Jeremie Cup – St Martin’s v Grouville, 12.30pm, BPL.

FNB Priaulx League – Rangers v Alderney Nomads, 2pm, KGV; Vale Rec v Belgrave Wanderers, 2pm, Corbet Field.

Guernsey FA Cup – Rovers Firsts v Rovers Vets, 2pm Port Soif.