Northern Rangers can extend their lead at the top

There are only two Forestry Tasmania Northern Premier League matches scheduled for Saturday.

The other two have been postponed because of poor ground conditions.

Northern Rangers can take the opportunity to move 7 points clear of second-placed Devonport City by beating fourth-placed Somerset at home at the NTCA Ground.

Sixth-ranked Ulverstone can move up the ladder, too, if they beat bottom-side Launceston United at the Ulverstone Showgrounds.

“Rangers are not at full strength this week and the boys know that Somerset are not going to make it easy for us,” said Rangers coach, Roslan Saad.

“In fact, after what they did against Glenorchy Knights, there are many who believe that they are the team that will beat Rangers.

“I’m looking forward to a very tight game and the hungrier team will win the game.

“My target is always full points at home and nothing less.”

Somerset showed last week that they can be a force to be reckoned with by beating the highly fancied Glenorchy Knights and, if Bobby Eaves is again in goal-scoring form, Rangers could have problems.

Ulverstone should have few problems against Launceston United.

“Our last game was two weeks ago as we had last weekend off because of the cup round,” said Ulverstone coach, Kim Rigby.

“Ben Foote has finished his three-week or three-game suspension and will come into calculation for selection.

“We have two or three players with colds and flu who haven’t trained so far this week, so will not know until just before the game if they are fit to play.

“Jason Singleton, who is only 15 or 16 years old, will also come into contention as he has got over a broken wrist and has performed well in the U18s and at training and is looking sharp.

“He is one of the four club players from Ulverstone who was in the State under-15 side last year, along with Brayden Mann and Joel Stone, who are playing regular senior soccer, and Jeremy Walker, who is at the TIS this year.

“We need to get a positive result against Launceston as we want to keep in touch with the top four and try to make the finals.

“As we have our local derby the following week away to Devonport, we hope to carry winning form into that game.”