05/04/2004
NORTHERN TEAMS TRAVEL IN EXPECTATION
The second legs of the semi-finals see both Northern teams travelling South to defend healthy leads on Tuesday - Brian Hargrave goes inside again ...
The second legs of the National League play-off semi-finals see both Northern teams travelling South to defend healthy leads on Tuesday 6th April - Brian Hargrave goes inside again ...
Manchester- Pontefract travel to Chichester
knowing that they only need to win one rubber to clinch a place
in the final. Manager Yawar Abbas is taking no chances and
at the time of going to press had still not revealed his line up.
However, it is understood that Madeline Perry will be facing
Linda Charman.
The expected line ups will be:
Chichester v Manchester-Pontefract
1. Pete Genever v Lee Beachill
2. Azlan Iskandar v James Willstrop
3. Tim Vail v Nick Taylor
4. Ben Garner v Marcus Berrett
5. Linda Charman v Madeline Perry
Chichester captain Tim Vail's prediction is that Linda Charman
should win to regain some pride for the Sussex Club to avoid
a whitewash and that the next best chance rests with
himself as he takes on the "semi retired" Nick
Taylor with "No real hope in the other rubbers if the
invaders from the North bring out the big guns".
Chichester's intrepid reporter Peter Crabtree has already had a
vision predicting an amazing Chichester victory. He has
even offered to join the Millwall chairman in offering to
run naked down the town centre if Chichester make the final.
Edgbaston Priory Manager Matt Suckling is also
taking no chances against TVS Broxbourne despite
holding a 4-1 lead from the first leg. and states " We only
need to secure two rubbers to make the final but
Broxbourne are a quality side and with their home support we
cannot afford to take any chances"
David Palmer is looking forward to playing Greg Gaultier with
fresh legs and hoping to avenge his defeat in the first leg.
Broxbourne Manager Geoff Long has not given up hope "We are
down but certainly not out, having picked up games in all of the
matches that we lost we are still in with a shout, and anyone who
knows anything about this Broxbourne team will know that they
will sweat blood on court for the Club and for the home
supporters who will be as vocal as ever".
The expected line ups will be:
TVS Broxbourne v Edgbaston Priory
Gregory Gaultier v David Palmer
Mark Chaloner v Adrian Grant
Alex Stait v Del Harris
Danny Meddings v Peter Barker
Alison Waters v Sarah Fitzgerald.
It should be a great night of squash again but the form book
suggests that "banker" wins from Peter Barker and Sarah
Fitzgerald could quieten the loyal Broxbourne band of merry
supporters.
Contributor: Brian Hargrave