Ben Coulter covered every blade of grass in last week’s Muratti win over Alderney and another big game is needed from him tonight. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0743622)
TONY VANCE has admitted that there is an enormous amount of pressure on Guernsey to win at the Corbet Field tonight.
The island team, under the guise of the Guernsey Senior County Division One representative side, are taking on the Kent County League in the preliminary round of next season’s Carlsberg FA National League Systems Cup, from which the champions get to represent England in an European competition.
With the Greens no longer taking part in the South and West Counties Championships, the knockout competition for league representative teams is now Guernsey’s only regular competitive football.
If they lose tonight under the lights, they will not have any competitive matches next year. Island coach Vance is fully aware of this.
‘It’s a must win game,’ he said. ‘It’s a competition that we’ve done well in, in the past, but it’s a competition that I want to win. It means more games for us and the prize is huge.
‘You can’t underestimate that.’
Vance has named one change from the starting line up that defeated Alderney 5-0 in the Muratti semi-final last Saturday.
Alex Le Prevost has come in for fellow Northerner Michael Wilson in the centre of defence.
The competition does not allow players who have had held a professional contract to take part, which rules out former Portsmouth youth captain Wilson and also Ryan Tippett and Kieran Mahon from the squad.
The tall Le Prevost is equally happy playing in the centre of midfield or in defence.
However, his coach at North and father, Mick, regards him primarily as a central midfielder.
Vance has a different opinion.
‘I like him as a centre half,’ he said.
‘He’s very composed, he’s strong and his distribution is fantastic. He’s probably the best distributor of the ball in the squad.
‘I think he will make a very good centre half.’
Sam Cochrane joins Le Prevost in the centre of defence with Bels’ Joby Bourgaize and North captain Darren Martin as full backs.
Jody Bisson retains his place in goal.
Vance also announced that the team will line up in a 4-4-2 formation which is different to the Alderney match where they were 4-3-3.
Rangers’ Ross Allen will start up front with Craig Young, with Dave Rihoy and Dom Heaume on the wings.
Captain Matt Warren and fellow St Martin’s player, Ben Coulter, are in the middle of midfield.
Vance explained the reasoning behind switching to 4-4-2.
‘Just to be more compact,’ he said.
‘Obviously we don’t anything about the side we’re playing. It’s best to be a bit cautious.
‘We’ll still be playing attacking football. Don’t worry about that.’
On the bench, Vance has named North’s 6ft 5in. striker Simon Tostevin, Scott Bradford, Glyn Dyer and Nathan Pattimore as reserve keeper.
He has also drafted in Vale Rec’s experienced centre half Neil Sarahs.
But there is no place for Saints’ diminutive centre forward Marc McGrath, who made an impact when he came on against Alderney in the second half.
‘I named 16 and had to leave Marc out,’ said Vance.
‘I like him as a player but Simon [Tostevin] gives us a different option. That’s why I’ve gone with him.
‘I spoke with Marc. It’s purely a tactical decision.’
The Kent County League is the second strongest league in the southern county behind the Kent League, with which Guernsey Athletics has hopes of joining in the future.
It has 15 clubs in its Premier Division.
However, Vance admitted that he does not know too much about their representative side.
‘I’m sure they are going to be strong. They are going to be sharp and they are going to do things quickly,’ he said.
‘The guys are going to have to be switched on from the start.’
Article posted on 28th March, 2009 - 9.30am
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