Vale County 1-3 Junction Elite Reserves
09/09/2018
Clapham Common
‘The Curious Case of Clapham Common’
The first home fixture of the season ended in defeat for Vale County, as they fell to a 3-1 loss to Junction Elite Reserves on Clapham Common.
The starting line up saw Cheshire return in net, with Woodbridge, Strang, Beck and Moran sitting in front. The centre of midfield saw a change, with Given joined by Clements in the absence of Slater. Foley, Peattie and Lluis Gonzalez continued behind Rowlands, as they had in the second half last week. No substitutes available was to prove fatal during the second half.
Much like last week, Vale started well and pressed for an opener. Rowlands was denied by a good save from the Junction keeper when one-on-one, before Peattie was unable to connect with a ball across the face of goal. The breakthrough did come though, and it did so in… unlikely circumstances. A good ball from Moran was flicked on by Rowlands, and Peattie (perhaps unknowingly) then put Foley through on the left
Vale County Chairman and Warm-up Coach Jack Rowlands
hand side of the box. What happened next was brand-new, unseen material from FF, as he then curled one into the far top (top) corner with his left (left) foot (1-0). The knee slide celebration was deemed unnecessary on this occasion due to the hard pitch underfoot. Next time. As the half wore on, Vale were their own worst enemy, giving away free kicks every few minutes - even if they were defended well. Beck also had a chest and volley from the halfway line that would’ve cleared Row Z, something this writer hopes never to see again.
HT: 1-0
At halftime, Junction made a couple of substitutions which were to prove pivotal in the eventual outcome. The second half started well from Vale, despite needless fouls still being given away. The foul that led to the equaliser was actually a good, tactical one to commit from Beck - who picked up a yellow for his cynical trip on the Junction winger despite his protestations: ‘Ref, he tripped over me!’. He didn’t. Junction made the most of this free kick, as the ball in was firmly met (1-1). Vale restarted the game positively, and were denied what looked (and was) a stonewall penalty, as Given was felled 3 yards out from goal… and then told to get up, to the disbelief of the team. VAR can’t come soon enough in Sunday League. From the resulting kick, Woodbridge was caught out by the long ball, and the Junction winger delivered a great ball into the box which was then clinically tucked under Cheshire (1-2). Vale were starting to flag by this point, as minds wearied and legs tired - and were then two goals down. A wonder strike by a Junction player from 25 yards out left Cheshire with no chance, and a lot to do for Vale (1-3). A raised hand from a Junction player to Woodbridge
only received a yellow, as the match then turned slightly feisty. As the game drew to a close, County did create a few chances but failed to put them away, leaving us with a disappointing result.
We’ll pick ourselves up and go again next week.
#upthecounty
FT: 1-3 (Foley)
Floom Man of the Match Award: Moran
Solfix Dick of the Day Award: Peattie (a swing and a miss)
Doug Beck receives a yellow card. @eddygwatkin©