'Home truths' help champions Rovers reset ahead of Saints clash
Rovers boss Kevin Gillease said that some ‘home truths’ have helped his side to reset in recent weeks as they prepare to play St Martin’s in the Priaulx tomorrow.
The reigning champions came from behind to win their first two league games of the season before being beaten 4-0 at home by Vale Rec.
They recovered to win 1-0 away at Alderney last weekend in rainy conditions and the head coach says that another three points at Blanche Pierre Lane would help to ‘set the team up nicely’.
‘We’ve spent the last few weeks focusing on ourselves because ultimately we’re playing with a different squad to last season,’ Gillease said.
‘We’re without Tobi [Oluborode] now, we’re without Fin [Whitmore], Niall [Hainsworth] is playing for GFC and Sammy Hall is still a few weeks away with injury, but this is the beauty of having a big squad of players who are more than capable of adapting.
‘Training has been really good recently and I think everyone is back on board.
‘We’ve had some chats and laid out some home truths, and that’s been from the players, too, not just from the coaches, which has been very beneficial.’
Gillease also discussed what he expects from his team’s latest opponents, as Saints come into the game having won three straight games in the Priaulx.
Ed Adams’ side have lost defender Brad O’Regan, though, as he made the switch to Vale Recreation during the week.
‘I went to watch their game against Sylvans and they took their chances very well,’ said Gillease.
‘I have heard that they’ve lost players in the last few days but I’m not sure what’s happened exactly.
‘Either way that’s irrelevant to us because we’re focusing on ourselves, and it’s always going to be a tough game playing against St Martin’s.
‘I think we have got the balance just about right now in our squad and we are on the right track once again, and another win this weekend would be great because we want to build on the victory in Alderney.’
A win for either side could put them level on points with current league leaders Vale Rec, who travel over to Alderney tomorrow afternoon.
Mark Romeril’s team have taken a maximum 12 points from their first four Priaulx encounters and are still yet to concede a goal in the division.
Their opponents, Alderney, are still searching for their first point of the campaign, after falling to narrow defeats against Rovers and Sylvans in recent weeks.
Elsewhere, Belgrave Wanderers welcome Northerners to the Track tonight as both teams look to bounce back from losses last weekend, while Rangers will search for a second straight home win when Sylvans make the trip to KGV tomorrow afternoon.
