Vale County 1-0 AFC Bluebirds

C.Cheshire continued to fend off A.Cheshire to start in net, with the familiar back four of Woodbridge, Beck, Strang and Beer in front. Given and Humphrey (having recovered from an embarrassing fall in the warm up) sat in the middle, with Moran, Rowlands and Foley behind Clements.

 

Vale were greeted by a previous referee for the first time this season, as Toby Katz, a self-confessed VCFC ultra, was in charge for today’s fixture.

 

Straight from the off Vale were in the ascendency, with a series of throw-ins on the right hand side of the Bluebird penalty box - and a strong penalty shout when Given went down within the first minute (which would become an ongoing theme of the match). Bluebirds are team of right wingers, and it showed as Vale got in down the left time and time again, with Woodbridge and Foley combining well, but the ball wouldn’t quite drop for Rowlands on a couple of occasions. Clements’ prodigious work rate was visible to all, hustling and harrying their defenders into hacking clear, before testing the Bluebirds ‘keeper with a low drive that was well saved.

 

Camped on the edge of their own box, whenever Bluebirds cleared it, Beck, Strang and Beer were able to build play from the back with no pressure on them from the opposition. Indeed, possession and territory stats were akin to 2009 Barcelona playing a minnow, with a minnow’s pathetic little mindset mindset, at the Nou Camp. The thought of playing attacking football on a Sunday morning proved too much for Bluebirds, instead seemingly happy to come to Clapham Common for the draw. Given and Humphrey were able to spread play from the middle of the pitch with ease as well, and one of their switches led to Vale’s best chance of the half - as Foley thundered (yes, thundered) a half-volley against the inside of the Bluebirds post, which then drifted agonisingly wide of the other post. The free kick and corner count continued to rise for Vale, but little came of them - with the Bluebirds keeper remaining fairly untested (very untested from a 40 yard Beck volley) as the half drew to a close, with the boys in blue and white well on top.

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HT: 0-0

 

Mr. Katz was correct in his assessment of the match to Vale at the start of the second half ‘you’re battering them’, and the second half would follow the same pattern.

 

The relentless pressure continued, as shots from Clements, Rowlands, Moran, Woodbridge and Peattie were saved by the Bluebirds keeper throughout the second half, as it started to feel like the goal might never come. Away from the goal, Given’s continued theatrics were not going unnoticed, with claims from the opposition that he was looking for an Oscar. Plenty of work still to do if he’s to convince the judging panel.

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As the corner count reached something approaching 20, a Bluebirds player said ‘I’ve got blondie’ to Strang. Strange that he would focus on the hair colour, considering how pale and lanky the Swede is - but either way he was corrected by the Vale centre back who said ‘actually I’m number 4’, in what may be the most civilised exchange ever to take placed between 1030 - 1230 on a football pitch on a Sunday morning.

 

Brazill and (feisty) debutant Odjidja came on for Humphrey and Clements, as Vale pushed ever harder for the breakthrough as the game entered the final 25 minutes. The County pushed more men forward, the game opened up - and Bluebirds had their one and only chance of the match as a consequence, but a combination of Beck and Cheshire prevented their striker getting a clean shot off inside the area, with it going harmlessly wide.

 

The final 10 minutes saw the pressure continue unabated, but without anything clear cut being created. However, with added time drawing to a close, the pressure finally paid off. A ball in from the left saw Beck flick it on before being cleaned out - with Katz pointing to the spot despite Rowlands nodding in from the same play. The Vale, The Bluebirds, it came down to this. An entire County held its breath as Moran stepped up… and maintained his 100% record from the spot to spark jubilant celebrations from all in blue and white (1-0). The final whistle blew straight after the restart, and relief swept across the Vale.

 

The miserly defence of Vale continues to be the best across the SSFL constitution, with 6 goals conceded in 11 matches. Kew Antigua’s win keeps the title race the tightest it can be, both tied on 30 points.

 

#utc

 

FT: 1-0 (Moran, 90+4)

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Floom Men of the Match Award: Strang

Solfix Dick of the Day Award: Given