Matthews won on his managerial début last year after a replay at Springfield, but only after his team had staged a tremendous fightback to score twice in the closing few minutes to salvage a 3-3 draw at Guernsey’s Foote’s Lane.Matthews said: ‘I learned a lot that day and when we won the replay at Springfield.
It’s a one-off match and I firmly believe that the team that wants it most on the day will win.’It’s an old cliché I know, but that’s what happens.
I haven’t named my team yet but I know we can win.
I believe that and my players feel the same way too, and we all have to be up for the challenge on the day.Deserve’We’ve had a very good season in the South West Counties Championship but unfortunately we’ve not had the support in the home games that the players deserve.’We’re an exciting team, we play good football and I hope the public will be behind us and come and support us on Monday.
A big and noisy crowd behind the Jersey players will I’m sure spur us on to a victory.’Matthews predicts that it will be an open game.’Both sides have a lot of pace and I’m sure it is going to be an open game.
We’ve both got quick and tricky forwards and I expect Guernsey will be looking to get behind us.’We too have the pace to hurt them and we’ve got a strong midfield who are all capable of scoring goals.
That’s one of our strengths and hopefully they will all play well and should get us through to a win.’Jersey have just seven players remaining from their squad of 18 from last year while new Guernsey boss Steve Ogier has also made sweeping changes with eight remaining following last season’s replay defeat.Matthews is expected to give a goalkeeping début to Jimmy Styles, the under-21 stopper who missed out on his senior début in the semi-final win in Alderney because of injury.Despite his defence of James Hayward, Lee Bradshaw, Ryan Lumsden and John Beatson keeping a clean sheet in Alderney the manager must have been impressed by good performances from Lumsden and the experienced Craig Ferey in the Upton and in the Wheway final against North, the latter who have a handful of useful players in Guernsey’s squad.Paul Duxbury also had an impressive Upton – linking well with the attack and tracking back to defend when required – and he may well slot in on the left of midfield ahead of Chris Hamon, the former professional who has featured there on numerous occasions this season.Ball-winner David Brodie is a certainty for the central position while skipper Chris Andrews will give Jersey trickery and pace out on their right.Chris McNabb, Darren Swanson and Ged McConnell could all play alongside Brodie but with 33 goals to his credit McConnell should get the nod ahead of the others.No team could leave at a striker who has scored 59 goals in a season so Ross Crick gets a place in attack.
Crick will partner one of Trinity’s twin strikers with Dave Le Roux starting in Alderney and probably keeping his place ahead of Jimmy Reilly.Possible starting team: Jimmy Styles; James Hayward, Craig Férey, Ryan Lumsden, John Beatson; Chris Andrews, Ged McConnell, David Brodie, Paul Duxbury; Ross Crick, David Le Roux.
Substitutes: Chris McNabb, Lee Bradshaw, Ray Grant, Jimmy Reilly, Darren Swanson, Chris Hamon and goalkeeper Jamie Brewster.Guernsey are expected to line out as follows: Jody Bisson; Steve Concanen, Ian Potter, Stuart Polson, Simon Johns; Matt Warren, Steve Bréhaut, Jan Renouf, Dave Rihoy; Ryan Tippett, John Veron.
Subs: Joby Bourgaise, Mark Coutanche, Tom Duff, Ben Duff, Gavin Le Page, Dominic Heaume and goalkeeper Paul de Garis.
