Rec have a proud Stranger Cup tradition to uphold

Mark Romeril’s men need just a single point against Rovers to book their spot in the next round after coming from behind to beat North 2-1 last weekend to move on to four points in Group B.

Kevin Gillease’s men, who lost to Rec in the final of last season’s competition, have already confirmed their status in the last four after winning both of their opening group stage matches.

Sylvans also retain an outside chance of making it through as they sit on one point from two games, but they will have to beat North and rely on Rovers getting three points against Rec to do so.

‘We know what we’ve got to do on Saturday and we’re going to Port Soif with the full intention of doing it,’ said Vale Rec boss Mark Romeril.

‘The lack of games in the last few months has meant we’ve been treating the Stranger more as an opportunity to get players back up to speed and back in the rhythm of things, but as the Vale Rec coach I know how important this cup is for the club – we’ve won it more than anyone else, and we want to do well again this year.

‘Winning the Stranger last year was absolutely massive and it marked a very successful season for us.’

Romeril also touched on team news ahead of tomorrow’s clash and said that they were almost at a ‘clean bill of health’.

‘We’re getting stronger – there’s no secret that we’ve had a whole heap of injury issues so far this season but a lot of the lads who have been out are getting back up to speed,’ he said.

‘Danny Ozanne and Sammy Goddard still have long term injuries so we may not see either of them again this season, but there are others who we have back.

‘Marlon [Jardim] is getting back up to speed now, which is great for us. We have to be careful with him and manage him properly, but he is looking good and scored a big goal against North last weekend.

‘We’re trying to reach the levels we were at earlier in the season and we were very pleased to get a good result against an extremely decent North team, and we want to build on that against Rovers and get another result.’

The Stranger Cup fixture is not the only time the two top sides in the Priaulx will meet over the next few weeks, as Rovers will make the trip to the Corbet Field in a fortnight, but Romeril said that this weekend’s affair will not have any bearing on upcoming games against the Port Soif team.

‘Rovers have already qualified so we don’t know how they’ll approach this game, while we’re coming in with the mindset of needing something, so I do not think this result will give any indications to how our matches against them will play out in the league later in the season because the scenario will be very different,’ he said.

‘We’re just focusing on ourselves and we want to keep getting better.’

Stranger Cup fixtures

Today (7.30pm) – St Martin’s v Island U18s, KGV 3G.

Tomorrow (all 2pm) – Rangers v Bels, KGV; Northerners v Sylvans, Northfield; Rovers v Vale Rec, Port Soif.