Kevin Maguire’s all-conquering side oppose Guernsey Northerners for the second year running having won 3-1 last year in the first ever match played at Guernsey’s Foote’s Lane.Tower’s small squad is stretched to the limit this weekend as defender Gavin Toudic is work-tied while striker Ben Ahier is currently having treatment to an injury.Maguire said: ‘Ben took a knock on the top of a foot recently playing for the Reserve team and he is struggling to shake it off.
I’ll give him as much time as possible to recover, so the starting team will probably not be announced until shortly before kick-off.’We’ve had a good season and there are several reasons why.
The boys have been fully committed and they have trained regularly.
Ten of them have also been together in the Junior Island squad so there is a lot of familiarity there too.
Many of them have also come through the system having played in Tower’s U16 and U14 teams as well.’North are a good team too and they will not be underestimated by us.
They were young like us last year so I’m expecting to see a lot of faces who played then again.
Both teams like to play football so hopefully we will see a good game.’North came through to win the title by seven points, from Belgraves and Rangers, after a three-horse race for most of the season.Strong in defence they are well served in midfield by skipper Darren Martin, Chris Young and Jason Boscher.
The trio are ball winners and good distributors and supplied the service for strikers Blake Smith and Kyle Stone to notch 25 goals between them this season.Guernsey’s sole Portsmouth Trophy success in the last ten years came through Vale Recreation in 1999.Kick-off at Springfield is at 2 pm.Tower squad: Jack Jouanny, David Syvret, Sam Dewhurst, Nathan Jégou, Joel Speight, Tom Poole, Bradley Russell, Justin Cotillard, Peter Vincenti, Nathan Maguire, Scott Goldhawk, Daniel Parry, Ryan Durand and Ben Ahier.
