Top two go head-to-head in derby

Both Vale Rec and North come into tonight’s fixture with a 100% record in the division and the winner will go three points clear at the summit of the table.

‘It’s always a big game against Vale Rec, and the players are really looking forward to it,’ said North coach Jose Alvarez.

‘We’ve been very good in the last few weeks – it was quite tough in pre-season, but we have got better and better.

‘We know we’ll have to be at our best for this game because Rec are such a good side.

‘I saw them play against St Peter and they are looking really sharp – I think they will be challenging for the title this year.

‘It would be great for us to pick up three points to keep this run we’ve had going, but at the same time it is only one game in a season.

‘The group is very tight at the moment, the numbers at training have been really good and we’ve been improving week by week.

‘There are still some injuries – Kyle Smith has just resumed light training, Tom De La Mare is about a week away, Luke Mollet is about the same.’

Vale Rec head coach Mark Romeril reported that his team are ‘very excited’ for this evening’s match, but said that North would be a ‘tough nut to crack’.

‘We’re well aware of the challenge that they will present and we did not beat them in the league last year, so it is not going to be easy.

‘I have a lot of time for North because of how they helped out Manzur a few years back, they do a lot of things right as a club.

‘We enjoy being involved in these kind of games, especially since both sides come into it with a 100% record in the league.

‘Whoever wins gets a bit of an advantage, but obviously it is very early days right now, so the result tonight is not going to decide anything.’

Romeril also revealed some team news and confirmed that Seb Skillen and Luke Gaudion have returned to training after spells on the sidelines.

‘It’s a huge positive having those lads back, and it gives me some decisions to make,’ he said.

Elsewhere this weekend, Rovers make the trip to Alderney, while Rangers host Bels at the KGV.

Sylvans will be looking to extend their winning run to four tomorrow when they entertain St Martin’s.

Jon Collenette’s team most recently beat Alderney 4-2 at home and have also seen off Grouville and Bels since he came into the head coach role.

St Martin’s will be looking to continue their winning run, as they edged out Bels late on last weekend.

FNB Priaulx League fixtures

Today

Vale Rec v North, Corbet Field, 7.30pm.

Tomorrow

Alderney v Rovers, Mount Hale, 2pm; Rangers v Belgrave Wanderers, KGV, 2pm; Sylvans v St Martin’s, St Peter’s, 2pm.