Zebras open title defence with visit pesky Colts
all over the Island in four divisions.
It is tomorrow's five First Division and five Second Division matches that will grab most of the attention as champions PHC open the defence of their league title with an away match against Devonshire Colts at Frog Lane and Second Division champions from last season, St. David's, host Hotels in their first-ever First Division match.
Colts handed the Zebras one of only two defeats in the league last season when they travelled to PHC Stadium on November 3 and won 2-0 on a double strike from Craig Smith.
PHC edged by Boulevard 2-1 to retain the Charity Cup last weekend and Colts battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Somerset in the Martonmere Cup in midweek. PHC will rely on the potency of top scorer Kyle Lightbourne and Sammy Swan up front, the stability of Mike Dill in defence and the creativity of Frank Ming, Kenny Mills and Kevin Dill in midfield.
Colts will look to the guidance of player/coach Lorenzo Symonds in the heart of their defence, with Harrison Trott the experienced man in the midfield where he will probably link with Derek Wright and Ellington Weldon.
The strength of Craig Smith puts fear in any defender and together with Quincey Aberdeen and Joey Weeks, Colts have a front line that looks promising.
Substitute Keishon Smith led their fightback against Somerset with the opening goal and that might just earn him a starting position against the Zebras.
St. David's will not be short of experience when they make their First Division debut at home to a Hotels team who are probably the oldest in the top flight. And the Islanders will rely heavily on the experience of player/coach Garrett (Punchy) Dill, goalkeeper George O'Brien and striker James Pace.
In former MVP David Bascome they have a player who can terrorise any defence while it will be interesting to see how Jerry Laws does against tighter marking in the First Division.
Hotels, like St. David's, have made some important signings during the off-season, re-signing top striker Ricky Hill who will link up with two other veteran campaigners, Stevie Dickinson and Coolridge Bell. All three players are past the age of 30 as are the most experienced midfield pair of Myron Piper and Eugene (Hammer) Simmons.
Hill is back with Hotels after a season with Hamilton Parish while 32-year-old Dickinson comes to them from Commercial Division team St. George's All-Stars, having decided he still has something to offer the First Division.
Bell, depite a promising start to last season with Dandy Town when he scored a hat-trick in their season-opener against Devonshire Cougars, never made his mark there and spent most of the season on the bench. He comes back to Hotels with plenty to prove.
National squad defender Albert Caisey, one of the many players changing clubs during the summer, will go up against his former Boulevard team-mates when North Village host them at Bernard Park. But Caisey is not sure of a place, having been kept of the defence by Arthur Simons in the Martonmere Cup this week.
Boulevard have had former schemer Cyril (Dago) Steede training hard with the club in pre-season while Kevin Smith, now a resident of Cleveland, was a surprise inclusion in the Charity Cup match against PHC.
Promoted St. George's make the long trek to the west end to meet the Somerset Trojans. It will be the first time the teams have met in the league since 1987 when St. George's, in their relegation season, trounced Somerset 4-2 at Somerset CC in the semifinals of the Friendship Trophy after trailing 2-0 at half-time.
These two teams have always produced some hotly-contested battles and if the east-enders, who have been quieter in the transfer market than any other First Division team, are to survive a good result against their more experienced opponents would certainly help.
St. George's will rely on the two Sinclair Smiths and Greg Foggo to lead their attack with Earl Basden, Philip Bailey, Andre Todd and Steven Denbrook forming the defence in front of Troy Hall, who is one of the most promising young 'keepers in the league.
In the other match, Hamilton Parish will take on Dandy Town at Wellington Oval, knowing that they face a tough battle trying to survive a second season in the First Division, with Ricky Hill gone and Shane Burgess injured.
Parish's attack will be led by captain Irving Burgess and Joe Lathan while there are Chris Caisey and Walton Burgess in midfield.
Town have an abundance of talent and too much should not be weighed into Tuesday's scoreless draw with North Village. In Walter Musson, Stevie Wade and Carlos Smith they have players who can create and score goals.
Transfers, Page 14 CRAIG SMITH -- Colts' danger man.