Blues win back respect

ALDERNEY have won back the respect of their two Muratti rivals, says Steve Concanen, upon whose shoulders – and those of his talented brother Josh – so much is carried in tomorrow’s Muratti semi at Mount Hale.

Will blue conquer red at Mount Hale tomorrow? Pictured, the Alderney side that beat North last weekend and unlikely to alter much, if at all, tomorrow. Back row, from left – Marian State, Ross Benfield, Ricky Moore, James Taylor, Jermaine Parry and Ciaran Stretton. Front – Steve Concanen, Josh Concanen, John Adamson, Dante walker and Joe Blackham. (Picture by David Nash, 24166088)

Everything points to a tight encounter and while Concanen refuses to make big predictions of a first Ridunians win in 99 years, he knows that there will be 65,000-plus Sarnians cheering for them from afar tomorrow.

The blues have not lost by more than two goals in their last three semi-final outings, but the record books show the last win – a solitary goal success against Guernsey – was in 1920.

Concanen says: ‘Of course we want to put that run to an end. Football over here has improved and the personnel around the club are improving.

‘If you look back maybe eight years Jersey and Guernsey would bring over a lot of youngsters, but the way results are going full teams are coming over now – stronger teams with experience.

‘It’s not in the back of our minds that we’re due one, but it’s a game of football. We have lost to teams we shouldn’t have lost to, and that’s why everyone loves the game.’

The Ridunians held Martin Cassidy’s men at 0-0 for 91 minutes before finishing 2-1 down at Mount Hale in 2017, and the progress made by FNB Priaulx League joint-leaders Alderney FC this season points to another close encounter.

The northern isle’s league club, who joined Guernsey’s top flight in 2016, have lost just once this term and look set to take St Martin’s to the wire in a battle to play in the 2019 Upton against Jersey’s champions.

‘The boys have got themselves fitter and stronger than in previous seasons, which is obviously helping,’ said Concanen, who assists his brother Josh in coaching the Alderney side.

‘But this isn’t the Priaulx League, this is Island football and it’s another step up. Guernsey FC play in the Bostik Leagues and Jersey are no different ... we know this will be a difficult game and we have to try and be organised and just see what we can do.’

Alderney will likely have two new caps in their starting side, which may well be the XI that started against North last week.

Ricky Moore, once of Tics and North, will likely start in midfield, while Romanian forward Marian State has shown himself to be a skilful goal poacher this league campaign.