St Martin’s next to try and end Rovers’ unbeaten run

The Channel Islands champions, who currently sit fourth in the table, were beaten 3-0 by the leaders at Blanche Pierre Lane last month as Max Simpson-Cohen netted a hat-trick.

‘All games in this league are really tough so we have to just work hard to be ready for Saturday,’ said new St Martin’s head coach Jason Leaman.

‘We’ve got to give our best because Rovers are a top side.

‘Going into the season I think a lot of people predicted us, Rovers and North to be the main teams fighting for the title but since then we’ve had our snags, so we just need to keep our heads down and hope that the win last weekend kicks us into gear.’

Saints moved up to fourth in the Priaulx table with a 2-1 victory over Jose Alvarez’s North last weekend, leapfrogging Bels due to having superior goal difference.

A win tomorrow could take them up to joint third in the Priaulx League table, and would move them just four points away from Rovers.

Elsewhere in the top flight, North make the trip to the Track this evening as they play Bels.

Both sides come into the fixture off the back of league defeats, as Chris Le Friec’s Belgrave most recently fell 6-1 to Rangers while North went down 2-1 to Saints.

A win for North would temporarily move them above their Grand Fort Road rivals for at least the evening, and if results later in the weekend go their way they would stay second in the league and a point behind Rovers.

Bels were victorious in the first clash between the two teams this season, winning 1-0 at Northfield.

They come into tonight’s game off the back of three losses in a row in all competitions, but a win would take them level on points with their opposition.

Vale Rec will be looking to respond from last weekend’s 5-0 loss to Rovers tomorrow, as they welcome an out-of-form Alderney side to the Corbet Field.

‘We need to bounce back after that Rovers game, which was really disappointing for us,’ said Rec’s head coach Mark Romeril.

‘We’ve still only lost twice in the league, though, and overall it’s still been a very good start.

‘Having so many injuries to starting players recently has killed us – we had nine first team guys out for the Rovers game and it will be similar this weekend.

‘I do not want to make excuses but it’s just a reality for us that it will be hard to compete with so many players out.

‘We know we’re more than capable of beating anybody on our day.’

The Nomads have failed to pick up a point in the Priaulx division since their opening day win against Sylvans, as they most recently lost their second clash against the St Peter’s outfit at home last Saturday.

‘We know that they’ll present us with a tough challenge, Alderney always do,’ added Romeril.

In the other Priaulx League fixture this weekend Rangers will play against Sylvans at KGV, as both sides have the opportunity to open up a three point gap on the other with a victory.

Sylvans won the first clash between the two teams earlier this season, beating Chris Tardif’s men 4-1 at St Peter.

Fixtures (subject to change)

Today – Bels v North, Track, 7.30pm.

Tomorrow – Vale Rec v Alderney Nomads, Corbet Field, 1.45pm; Rangers v Sylvans, KGV, 2pm; Rovers v St Martin’s, Port Soif, 2pm.