Match Preview

LIGERS will try again this Saturday to play Woodley Saints Panthers in the last 16 of the EBFA Trophy. The original game was postponed after torrential rain flooded the Berkshire County Sports Complex. Ligers, who are flying high in Div E, will be hoping to repeat the opening day league victory against Panthers. It got Ligers off to a great start in the league, as they put their guests to the sword 9-1 at Twickenham Academy. However, it will be recalled that Panthers played the whole game with just nine players, including missing their first choice keeper, Harry Angell. Ligers, on the other hand, rotated 15 players and Frazer and George L both scored hat-tricks. Ligers will be conscious that the 9 Panthers caused them a torrid 35 minutes last time with their long-ball game and the pace of their forwards but it is hoped that the Ligers defence has matured somewhat over the last 12 weeks. Nevertheless, the teams will start on balanced terms as both name 14 in their starting line-up this week.

Panthers have proved to be anything but relegation-fodder since their September travails, losing only one game at home and sitting comfortably mid-table on 11 points. On their way to the last 16 of this competition they have beaten Hearts Cheetahs 6-5 and Whitegrove Tigers 7-1.

Ligers are without Hayden Pillay who has departed for his annual sojourn in South Africa and some training in the sun, Frazer Pickrell and Rufus Biggs who both have family commitments. The return of Gabriel Sinclair to the line-up should also add some steel after the upset against local rivals Teddington Athletic Wolves last time out, and James Hallett makes just his fourth appearance this term. George Perez-Medina, John Humphrey, Ilyas Akhtar and Joe Wallis will all have been ever-present.

Hopefully the rain will stay away and the Berkshire County Sports grounds will be playable. Pitch inspection at 8am