Vale FC 5 vs. Fleetdown United FC 4
Bexley League U 16 Division A League Match 21st November 2010
On the basis of this performance it would appear complacency has set into the Vale U16 squad after enjoying field-days and goal-sprees against previous but, with resp...ect, sub-standard opposition over the past few weeks. It’s probably fair to say that, without exception, none of the boys covered themselves with glory today.
Having been warned about the dangers of complacency prior to kick-off, it seemed the message didn’t get through. Despite taking an early lead through skipper Obi Nwanokwu who was persistent in the box to eventually thrash the ball into the roof of the net, swiftly followed by goals from Jake Bernard and Paul Sewell who showed good composure to finish off a well-worked move across the keeper, spectators would have been forgiven in thinking another cricket score was imminent.
However, this was not to materialise.
Fleetdown fought their way back into the game with a never-say-die attitude, showing superior hunger, and desire and forcing Vale into uncharacteristic individual and team errors. Vale were way below par and very few showed the strength of character and commitment to battle their way back to dominate the proceedings. Inevitably they came unstuck with a ball through the middle that the lone Fleetdown forward latched on to and lobbed McLeod in goal to bring the score to 3-1.
Without ever really getting into their usual flow, Vale scored another two before half-time through Austin Otchere and Scott Borg’s goal of the game which he swept into the roof of the net from just outside the area.
5-1 up at half-time, you would have been excused for thinking the game was over as a contest… but nothing was further from the truth. Vale failed to build and improve on their first half performance and allowed the opposition back into game. Other than the occasional sweet passages of play, Vale were mainly dispirited and disjointed, failing to dominate in any area of the pitch, inviting Fleetdown almost to attack at will.
Fleetdown won a succession of corners and, with increasing confidence, started to dominate play, overrunning the Vale midfield and pressurising the back four. Their commitment, work rate and effort were duly rewarded with three goals in the second half, to which Vale had no response and, in all honesty, by the end of the game Vale were hanging on to their one-goal advantage.
As indicated earlier, Vale were way below the standards they’ve set themselves this season. But, probably more worrying, almost as a team they failed to rise to the occasion against what must be considered to be, at least (and with respect) mediocre opposition.
All in all, this was a disappointing performance.
However, to take the positives out of the game…… the boys didn’t surrender their lead, they remain unbeaten in the league, and another three points on the table is not to be sniffed at in the long-term quest for the league title.
Vale: McLeod; Rhoden; Bonsu; Walters; Borg (1); Bernard (1); Fakolujo; De Weever; Sewell (1); Nwanokwu (1); Otchere (1)
Goal Scoring Chart:
- Obi Nwanokwu – 21
- Chris Richards – 12
- Scott Borg – 10
- Jake Bernard – 7
- Austin Otchere – 6
- Tevon Webster – 3
- Shaquile Fakolujo – 2
- Paul Sewell - 2
- Devante Walters – 1
- Kyle Haynes-Robertson – 1
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