This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

MICK LE PREVOST had to make two scouting trips to Jersey ahead of tomorrow’s Upton.

Last weekend, the North boss went and watched Trinity play Grouville.

Needing just one point to win the Coca-Cola Combination Premiership, Trinity surprisingly lost 2-0.

With the league going to a play-off decider at Springfield on Tuesday evening, Le Prevost had to book a flight again to witness St Paul’s defeat Trinity to take the title and book their place in the Upton to face Guernsey champions North.

‘I watched Trinity and I was hoping to play them to be fair, but it didn’t work out,’ he said.

‘I’ve learnt a lot from watching St Paul’s. I’ve picked up a few good things.’

Going by this season’s records book, it is quite clear why Le Prevost would rather have played Trinity at Springfield.

The chocolate-and-blues did lose 2-0 to Trinity in the first round of the Deloitte CI Champions League in September, but they then went down 5-0 at the hands of St Paul’s in the Wheway.

However, Le Prevost is not looking too much into that result.

‘We were under strength that day and they had a full squad, but that is in the past,’ he said.

Le Prevost said that he has gathered plenty of information on his opponents from watching them play again.

‘I took a lot of notes,’ he said.

‘They’ve got some good players. Craig Russell up front is one of the best I’ve seen around for a while and the left winger was good as well.

‘They’ve got some weaknesses as well, which I’m keeping to myself. If we play as we have done we’ll be OK.’

Le Prevost does have a couple of injury doubts.

Defender Sam Stables is still recovering from a knee problem and Le Prevost’s son Alex has a bad back, but will probably start in the midfield.

One player definitely out is Steve Ozanne.

The full back has been a squad man for a number of years, a player who came in whenever Le Prevost was short.

But this campaign he has been an integral part of the North defence.

‘He’s absolutely gutted [to miss out] and I feel sorry for him,’ said Le Prevost.

‘He would have started. He’s still coming down and I’ve named him on the bench so that he gets a winner’s medal if we win.’

Ozanne joins long-term injury absentee Gavin Le Page on the sidelines.

Since beating Bels to win the league early last month, North have had no action apart from playing, and beating, the island side in a friendly a couple of weeks back.

That is a worry for Le Prevost.

‘My main concern is that our last game was on 10 March,’ he said.

‘That’s a long time ago and the preparation hasn’t been ideal because of the simple reason that a lot of my players have been involved in island training.’

When North last won the league in 2007, they failed to replicate that success in that year’s Upton when they went down at the hands of Jersey Scottish.

Le Prevost is looking to go one better this year.

‘After winning the league the next best thing is the Upton,’ he said.

‘We’ll be going 100% to win it, but it’s a cup final and it’s all on the day.’

One Northerner who cannot wait to strap on his boots tomorrow is Simon Tostevin.

The island striker missed out on his side’s last Upton appearance in 2007 due to cruciate problems that saw him out of the game for nine months.

‘I do want to make up for missing out on the game two years ago,’ said the 26-year-old.

‘I was absolutely flying back then and I’ve been trying to rediscover that form since. I had been hot and cold this season but the last couple of months it’s all clicked together and hopefully it will click again on Saturday.’

Tostevin is set to be partnered up front by Craig Young, who won last year’s player’s player of the year and has been one of this season’s best players, and Glyn Dyer.

‘Our front three is the best at any club in the Channel Islands,’ said Tostevin. ‘Our games complement each other so well.’

Tomorrow’s Upton kicks off at 2pm at Springfield.CI championship club showdown: North boss without Ozanne for tomorrow’s trip to Springfield

Article posted on 17th April, 2009 - 2.29pm