Zebras looking to get back on track
PHC Zebras will be looking to make it two wins on the trot at Police Field when they kick off their Dudley Eve campaign with a clash against Boulevard Blazers at the same venue tomorrow.
Qualifying for the Christmas tournament by way of a vastly superior goal difference over Hamilton Parish, Zebras will now be trying to find some sort of form that they can carry over into the second half of the season.
With a victory over Devonshire Colts at Prospect last weekend, the west end side will be looking to make Police Field a happy hunting ground.
Defender Kevin Richards believes that the games over the festive period will help his side get over their early season disappointments and act as "a springboard" to a successful second half of the campaign.
"We are taking things one game at a time right now and looking to use the Dudley Eve as a springboard into the second half of the season," said Richards. "Psychologically the results a team gets in the Dudley Eve can play a big part in the rest of their season.
"I think Village came out of the blocks with guns blazing last year because of their performance in the Christmas tournament and we're hoping to do the same.
"It's been a strange season so far, where I feel we haven't played poorly but haven't been able to close out games and have not got the results we were looking for.
"Lady luck has not been on our side, but hopefully she's saving it all for 2009!"
Zebras only managed three wins from their seven games in the league and are a shadow of the side they were last term on their way to hoisting three trophies.
One vital cog in their wheel last year was the performance of one of the league's stingiest defences, which allowed the side to win close matches on their way to the league title.
Having already conceded almost the same amount of goals as last term, the side will be looking to use their upcoming matches as preparation to get their season back on track, and perhaps lift a trophy – something that seemed non-existent just a few weeks' back.
"We are a resilient side, so no matter what the results are we will have the wherewithal to be competitive for the rest of the season.
"Saying that, getting our hands on a trophy would give the players and fans a big morale boost going into January.
"Blazers play a good brand of football, and have shown that they are an organised unit who can defend as well as attack.
"It will be as tight a game as you'd expect from two of the top four teams in the country right now, but hopefully we'll be able to build on our victory against Colts last Sunday and get back to back wins on Police Field."
Preceding the Premier Division Dudley Eve clash will be Somerset Eagles and St. David's, who will square in the First Division form of the tournament.
In the clubs' only meeting so far this year, Eagles ran out 3-0 winners over the Islanders at St. David's.
The First Division game starts at 12 p.m. while Premier action kicks off at 2.30 p.m.