The Philadelphia Eagles lost their unbeaten tag in the National Football League this week and North Village coach Kenny Thompson is hoping his team will avoid the same fate when they take on Boulevard Blazers at Goose Gosling Field on Thursday night.

Village are the only unbeaten team left in the Premier Division but Thompson feels that means they have a target on their back with every new opponent they face

The fact wehave had a strong start this season, each win builds a higher level of confidence but at the same time we know that it also creates more of a challenge because each upcoming opponent is working very hard to beat us and take away our 100 per cent record in the league,“ Thompson said.

“That brings pressure but that’s good because that pressure puts us in a frame of mind to be ready with whatever challenges come our way.”

With the match scheduled to kick off at 9pm, the late-night start brings its own problems with the late finishes affecting players and staff alike.

“Kick-offs at 9pm brutal for me personally because I make 6am every morning,” Thompson said.

“Having a match start at 9pm and finish at 11pm and then the aftermath means I’m not getting home until midnight and that impacts me the next day.”

“But in regards to the player performances, we approach it like any other game. The challenge of playing at 9pm and finishing late is one side but if there is a game at 7pm then players are rushed after work to get to the ground and then prepare and warm up, so both provide challenges. It is what it is so we can’t be too concerned about that. we just have to focus on being ready at the kick-off.