Juniors begin bid to retain the Stranger Cup
ISLAND Under-18 coach Angus Mackay says that the holders have what it takes to be competitive in the Stranger Cup once again, but admitted that it will not be easy for his side to repeat their success.
Last year’s GFA development side made history by winning the competition for the first time, although the vast majority of the winning team have moved on from the age group, including Bristol City’s Ben Acey and GFC regulars Keene Domaille and Brandon Wallace.
‘The way to measure success for us is not necessarily by winning this trophy, it is more about trying to develop these players to prepare them for the future, but we will definitely be trying to go all the way once again,’ said Mackay.
‘I am really looking forward to getting going again, our last game was that Stranger Cup final last year so it should be good – we have had a few sessions and we are happy with what we have done so far.
‘For us the main thing we want to get out of playing in the Stranger is giving the youngsters a chance to improve at this level, because a lot of them will be moving onto senior football very soon and quite a few will already be getting used to it.’
Guernsey U18s begin their defence of the trophy at KGV this evening when they play the Priaulx League leaders Rovers.
‘We can definitely get out of this group but we know it will be difficult, especially as we’re playing against a side as strong as Rovers straight away,’ added Mackay.
‘You only have to look at the league table to see what sort of team they are, but we believe in ourselves.’
Joining the development team and Kevin Gillease’s men in the group are Vale Rec and Rangers, who are set to meet tomorrow afternoon with a 3.30pm kick off at KGV.
A format change in this year’s competition means that there are now two groups of four teams, rather than the usual three groups of three, and the top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-final stage.
In the other Stranger Cup group, Jason Leaman’s in-form St Martin’s side play on Sunday against Bels, who were unbeaten in their last three games before the festive break.
‘We are all looking forward to this game having had the Christmas break,’ said the Saints head coach.
‘As with all games this season I am sure that Sunday against Bels will be yet another tough one, but the squad is looking good and we are only nursing a couple of knocks.
‘My aim for the Stranger is to go as far as we possibly can, but we will take each game as it comes like we have done in the league, and we know that anything can happen.’
St Martin’s have not lost a game since their Jeremie Cup defeat to Grouville in late October, winning five of their six most recent encounters, although Chris Le Friec’s Bels team are the only side in Guernsey to have beaten Priaulx leaders Rovers in the 2022-23 campaign.
Last year’s runners-up North are in action in the final cup game of the weekend, as they play against last season’s semi-finalists, Sylvans, in the second game of Sunday’s double-header.
Mike Garnett’s young Sylvans team won three of their last six games before the Christmas break after experiencing a tough start to the Priaulx League season, although they were beaten 6-1 by this weekend’s opponents in early December.
This weekend’s Stranger Cup fixtures
(all on KGV 3G pitch)
Tonight – Rovers v Island U18s, 7.45pm.
Tomorrow – Rangers v Vale Rec, 3.30pm.
Sunday – Bels v St Martin’s, 12.45pm; Northerners v Sylvans, 3pm.
