AFC Mortlake 1-2 Vale County
02/09/2018
Marble Hill Park
‘Vale County: The Resurrection’
Vale County’s first competitive fixture since May 2016 ended in a hard fought 2-1 victory away at AFC Mortlake on a hot morning in Twickenham.
The starting line up saw Rowlands start in goal (no recognised goalkeeper was available), with Woodbridge, Strang, Beck and Moran sitting in front. The centre of midfield saw Given and Chris Slater (welcome back Chris) debut as a duo together, with Fraser Foley, Peattie and Lluis Gonzalez in behind Clements, fresh from his goal during the friendly, up top. No substitutes available was to prove difficult during the second, sweltering half.
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Vale started positively, and applied much of the early pressure, keeping the ball well without ever being under threat from Mortlake. Clements and Peattie had a couple of half chances, although the Mortlake keeper was not severely tested. The ball was being moved quickly through midfield and out wide, with Gonzalez and Foley finding joy down the flanks. In the (roughly speaking) 32nd minute, a quick roll out from Rowlands to Moran was worked inside to Gonzalez, who gave the ball back to his full back. Moran then delivered a beautiful, whipped early cross to Clements, who expertly controlled a volley from the edge of the box into the top right corner (0-1). Clements reluctantly attempted the Sturridge dance in celebration - the results of which were disappointing. Next goal the fans will be hoping for a bit more effort, that’s for sure.
Following the goal, Vale continued to press for another, and looked to have the momentum to get a second… that was until Rowlands’ nunc pessimi (worst moment, brush up on your Latin please). A ball down the Vale left looked to have limited danger, with the AFC Mortlake striker getting a shot away from the angle. A Liverpool fan his whole life, Rowlands thought it best to channel his inner Westerveld / Dudek / Mignolet / Karius / Allison - in trying to kick the shot (not on target) away, he only managed to have the ball come off his foot, onto the post, and into the net (1-1). Rowlands collapsed to the floor, perhaps at the deafening silence that initially followed the mistake, perhaps because he was tired - but Vale picked themselves up and got to half time level.
HT: 1-1
The second half saw Beck move into goal, with Rowlands up top and Clements moving back to centre back, as almost all the lanky lads switched places. Starting the second half in the same vein they began the first, Vale applied the pressure with some neat passing moves, seeing both Rowlands and Peattie come close. Mortlake continued to be suffocated in their own half, and in the 65th minute or so, the breakthrough came. A neat move down the right involving Foley, Woodbridge and Peattie saw the ball come to Slater, who took a touch before calming slotting the ball in at the near post (1-2). Forgetting to do the Shearer celebration was a blot on an otherwise excellent team goal.
The September heat began to take its toll on Vale as the half progressed, with players fatiguing in the heat. Tired bodies, and tired minds - but not out of heart. Sitting deeper than worms living their pathetic little lives underground, the lads were struggling to hold onto the ball, and Mortlake began to build pressure. A smart save by Beck preserved the lead (and, as we were all told, hurt his thumb), and Vale then had a couple of chances of their own on the break. Rowlands called for a penalty, before hitting the underside of the crossbar minutes later after a quick move - and then Peattie fired wide after good play down the left. That was to prove VCFC’s last meaningful attack of the match, as it became a backs to the wall job late on. Marshalled by Strang, Clements and Given in the middle, Vale saw the game out without any clear chances for Mortlake late on to record 3 points on the opening day of the season.
#upthecounty
FT: 1-2 (Clements (32), Slater (65))
Floom Man of the Match Award (voted by the players): Slater
Solfix Dick of the Day Award (also voted by the players): Rowlands