Vale went into this league fixture with several players missing. Jum, Gay, Pirate, Simmo, Pants and Fez, being just some of the names.
Unlike our earlier fixture in the season at home against Cally when it was freezing, this Sunday morning turned out to be on a gorgeous spring day. Cally were 2nd in the table at the start of the weekend and we were coming off the back of a poor performance and defeat away at Amblecote.
Vale started the game the stronger, and created a few half chances. After about fifteen / twenty minutes though, Cally started to show their ability and created some good chances of their own. Their number ten skinning Silk and hitting the post with a great strike, being just one.
Just as Cally were getting on top, Vale hit them on the break. Luke beat their offside trap after a through ball from Maverick and smashed home with the defence just stood watching.
Some players (Me for sure) feared the worst after going one up and awaited the onslaught. And although it never really came, the pressure they put us under did grow. Unfortunately for Vale, they did get their breakthrough on the stroke of half time and we went in at one a piece. This was after Thompa (our penalty saving expert) had produced a great penalty save. Pascy had been adjudged to handle in the box and the ref pointed to the spot.
We came out in the 2nd half and to an extent replicated the 1st half. Cally had the better of the possession but both teams had their chances to take the lead. Once again it was Vale that got the 1st goal of the half.
Sugar Face played in Maverick who left his man with sheer pace, and drilled the sweetest of shots across the keeper into the top left hand corner. We still have two games left this season, but I’ll be amazed if that isn’t the goal of the season!
Our hopes of holding onto the lead were heightened when Cally were reduced to ten men just after the hour mark. This didn’t really alter the flow of the game though, as Cally continued to apply more and more pressure.
With every “how long left ref”, our confidence grew and players and spectators genuinely thought a shock was on the cards.
That was until the last few minutes of the game when Cally hit their equaliser. Gutted not to take all three points after working so hard, we were still delighted to come away with a point.
Cally were an aggressive team and attempted to intimidate a physically smaller team. They failed in their attempts (Luke aside) though and as I pointed out, finished the game with only ten men. On the whole Vale played really well against a good team. Seb was quality at right back and linked up with Sugar Face on the right of midfield brilliantly. Luke finished his goal well and Maverick’s was just class.
* One of the opposition got Chuff in a head lock and rubbed his head with his knuckles.
* Luke gobbed off AGAIN to the opposition and finally got what has been coming to him. Their player approached him whilst questioning Luke's comments. The result….. Luke bricking himself and running the width of the pitch away from their player. Both teams found it highly amusing but he was subbed shortly after.
* Woss came on for Luke and nearly played:
A) The ball of the game, and
B) nearly scored the winner. His shot just going wide of the far post from about eighteen yards out.
*Woss whilst wunning the line, had problems with a local dog attacking his flag!
