Return of key players gives Rec some Christmas cheer

The Grand Fort Road side welcome skipper Glenn Le Tissier back into a match-day squad for the first time in over a month, while first-choice keeper Christian Povell and midfielder Danny Ozanne are both also available once again.

‘We have been short of some of our really important players in the last few weeks, and having loads missing at the same time has left us a little bit exposed on occasion, particularly in the Rovers game,’ said the head coach.

‘Hopefully the boys can put in a decent performance against Sylvans, as our aim is to finish off as strong as possible before Christmas.’

This weekend’s encounter is one of Rec’s three remaining before the break, as they host St Martin’s on the 10 December before going to the Track a week later to play Bels.

Romeril’s side saw off tomorrow’s opponents in convincing fashion earlier this season, beating them 5-0 at St Peter’s.

Sylvans have started to turn their fortunes around after a tough start to the campaign, though, most recently beating Chris Le Friec’s Belgrave Wanderers 3-1.

‘We are going to have to be sharp to get the result – the first time we played Sylvans we were pretty comfortable but they are definitely improving,’ said Romeril.

‘We know where we are as a group, we are not getting carried away with ourselves despite being in a good position, and for us it is now just about getting these positive results before the break.’

Elsewhere in the Priaulx League this weekend, North have the opportunity to rise into the top two for at least a few hours as they play Rangers at home this evening.

Jose Alvarez’s side currently sit five points off leaders Rovers with a game in hand on Kevin Gillease’s men, and are just one point behind their closest rivals Rec having played a match less.

Rovers have the chance to extend their unbeaten run in the league this weekend as they host Bels.

The Port Soif team have won seven and drawn two so far this season, and are four points clear at the summit.

‘We’re looking forward to the game tomorrow, it is a really important one for us and we need to keep our momentum going,’ said Gillease.

‘Top of the league is where we want to be, each game we are unbeaten the confidence grows and if we are unbeaten at Christmas we will be extremely happy.

‘We have four to play before the break, two of which are really difficult games against North, but this one at the weekend is just as important as any other.

‘Bels will be well up for it, they have a number of players who can hurt us and when we played them at the Track we had a really tough afternoon and just about scraped through.

‘Everybody has to be on the ball and ready to go, we saw what they did at the start of the season against North and they could easily do the same to us.’

In this weekend’s other fixture, St Martin’s will make the trip to Alderney as they look to maintain pressure on the sides in the Wheway Cup spots.

Saints are just two points behind North in the league after experiencing a recent upturn in form, and if other results go their way this weekend they could finish the weekend as high as second in the Priaulx.

Fixtures

Tonight

North v Rangers, 7.30pm, Northfield.

Tomorrow

Alderney Nomads v St Martin’s, 1pm, Mount Hale; Rovrs v Bels, 2pm Port Soif; Vale Rec v Sylvans, 2pm Corbet Field.