Improving Rangers targeting a top-four finish

They will be looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat at the hands of Vale Rec as well as a narrow midweek loss in the Jeremie Cup to North.

‘I will not shy away from the fact that our aim this year is to get into the top four,’ said Tardif.

‘We will go into the game very confident as a group because we know how much we have progressed from last season.

‘We’ve put in two very good displays against North in the Rawlinson and Jeremie, and we’ve won once and probably should have won the second time, too, which shows how competitive we are.

‘It’s been really pleasing to give so many U18s the opportunity to play, too, and there’s still so much we can improve, which will come from spending more time playing together as a unit.

‘We’re not the finished article yet, but I do not think any team in the division is right now.

‘The league is as open as it has been in years, the gulf in quality is not as big between the top and lower sides and I think that pretty much every team will be trying to do the same as us and push a top-four finish, so we need to get results.’

The Rangers boss also touched on some team news ahead of their visit to St Martin’s, and confirmed that new midfield recruit Sam Green will be sidelined for a couple of months after breaking his wrist.

‘We have a few injuries, holidays and illnesses to contend with this weekend alongside the more long-term injury to Sam, but that’s the norm – no team will ever always have their whole team available for every game.

‘It does highlight that we’re still a little light in comparison to where we want to be in order to be really competitive.’

Saints also come into this clash off the back of two straight defeats, as they were beaten by North on the opening weekend of the Priaulx League season and lost 2-0 at home to Rovers in the Jeremie Cup last Friday.

Elsewhere in the Priaulx League this weekend, Rovers and Bels will both be looking to make it six points from six as they meet at Port Soif tomorrow afternoon.

Rovers went 2-0 down in their Priaulx League opener against Sylvans, but recovered well to ensure they started their title defence with a win.

Bels picked up a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Alderney in their first Priaulx clash of the season, but could not advance in the Jeremie Cup after Sylvans won in extra-time last Friday night at the Track.

Tomorrow’s other offering sees an in-form Vale Rec side return to St Peter’s for a second weekend in a row, this time to play Sylvans in the Priaulx League.

Mark Romeril’s men survived a scare to eventually see off Rocquaine Pirates in the Jeremie last Saturday and picked up three points in their first league game against Rangers.

Today – St Martin’s v Rangers, Blanche Pierre Lane, 7.30pm.

Tomorrow – Rovers v Bels, Port Soif; Sylvans v Vale Rec, St Peter’s, both 2pm.