Match Preview

For this rearranged fixture, we welcome Winnersh Rangers Dragons to Carlisle Park. Rangers are Tigers' most frequent opponents since Hearts joined the EBFA, this being the third meeting of the sides. Tigers lost 6-1 at Winnersh in 2015 (using three different keepers!) and 3-2 at home in March last year. Sam scored in both games, Gabriel got the other. Harry Wardlow and Gabe were "man of the match". Winnersh obviously retained their Div C status having gone up with Tigers at Christmas 2015. Hopefully the boys can maintain the wonderful spirit shown despite the heavy defeat last week at Camberley and the addition of Alex and Tommy since the last meeting with Rangers will make Tigers that little bit more difficult to break down. Henry is missing this week so the time is ripe for a new dead-ball expert to step forward and hopefully Matt will have some more power in his right boot to get those goalkicks upfield! Winnersh have a squad of eleven boys which Tigers should match. It has become clear over this wet, cold winter, that two substitutes are almost a prerequisite if Tigers are to be competitive: however, with Henry unavailable and Eli dropping out for a further week, at least 6 of the squad will probably play the full game. Sam returns to the line-up this week and it is hoped that Alex will have overcome the blisters he developed last Saturday morning and caused his early withdrawal.
Let's hope the weather is good and the pitch not too muddy or frozen.