Hayden Youth FC 1 vs. Vale FC 3
In the absence of Jamie McLeod in goal and midfield enforcer Kyle Hanynes-Robertson in front of the back four, Vale started this double-banker in an uncharacteristically subdued and hesitant mood, featuring only one substitute on the bench. This meant by necessity Vale had to approach the game in a slightly more defensive formation and mind-set. So… this important double-banker was always going to be a real challenge against previously unknown opponents.
After a few minutes it became clear Hayden Youth are a decent outfit who, given the opportunity to play, were more than capable of doing so to good effect. Hayden competed for every ball and proved to be very spirited opponents. They were very direct and purposeful and, to their credit, showed no shortage of ability and creativity on the ball.
Whilst stand-in keeper Paul Sewell didn’t have a lot to do in the first game, he did have to parry a direct free kick onto his crossbar to save one of a constant succession of free kicks conceded by Vale in dangerous areas in and around their last third. It was also evident that the Vale central defensive partnership of David Bonsu and Keanu Legal-Miller were constantly under pressure and forced to command proceedings in the air and on the floor. Both were up to the task and admirably never buckled. Full backs Scott Borg and Daniel de Weever played significant supportive roles, and all the back four tried to play their way out of trouble through the midfield rather than, at times, using the long-pass option that would have released the pressure to put the forwards in with more opportunities on goal.
It appeared that midfield was where this game would be won or lost and midfielders Jake Bernard, Zach Rhoden, Ridge Mataka and Devante Walters all saw a lot of action, though not always positive. With all the team in hesitant mode and wanting too much time and too many touches on the ball, things became scrappy, particularly in midfield where things got bogged down and too many free kicks were conceded due to lack of confidence and being second to too many balls. However, Vale remained dogged and resolute without ever really unlocking the Hayden back four to feed strikers Nwanokwu and Richards. Austin Otchere came on to replace Richards up front and provide fresh legs and endeavour, but goal scoring chances were few and far between and, in all honesty, over 50 minutes 0-0 and a share of the points was probably a fair result.
Double-bankers are played over 25 minutes per half… losing 30 minutes per game in total. This proved to be a real disadvantage for Vale who started to gain the ascendancy towards the end of the first 50 minute game. Indeed, starting with Otchere in the second game and with instructions to get the Hayden defence turning with earlier and more consistent diagonal balls behind their back four, Vale started to create more scoring chances. The second such pass was helped on by Obi Nwanokwu into the path of Otchere who pounced on his chance to smash home a rising shot into the roof of the net with his left foot.
This was a very important goal as it seemed to serve two purposes. Firstly, to settle Vale’s nerves and encourage them to play more positively, and secondly, to dampen the spirit of the opposition. Further defence-turning passes saw Nwanokwu put through on goal, only to see two rocket shots hitting the angle of post and crossbar in quick succession. Thankfully for Vale, Nwanokwu buried his third such chance with an unstoppable drive across the face of the goal that nestled into the bottom corner of the net. Whilst there was still a lot of football to be played, this proved to be the winning goal at the final whistle.
2-0 up and with Daniel de Weever taking over from Sewell in goal, Vale continued to try to play football, but were visibly tiring. Hayden scored a much-deserved goal to bring the game to 2-1 after a defensive lapse of concentration and fatigue enabled their forward to capitalise upon a rare opportunity in front of goal with de Weever out of position. It looked like a tense last 15 minutes was to follow until Vale were awarded a penalty for handball in the box. Nwanokwu took captain’s responsibility as he strode up to place the ball on the penalty spot. He had a penalty saved against FC Sutton Dynamo in the Bexley Cup the previous week, so he showed a lot of character and belief in his ability to take this crucial spot kick. He despatched it low to the keeper’s right, putting the result beyond any doubt and securing all three points for Vale.
While every player stuck to their task in what was Chris Richards’ last outing for the club, there were several notable stand-out performances: Bonsu and Legal-Miller in central defence; Rhoden and Mataka in centre midfield; and for taking the chances that mattered, Otchere and Nwanokwu up front.
All in all, 4 points out of 6 available on the day was a creditable outcome given the circumstances: double-banker; no goal keeper; players playing out of position; short 25 minute halves; 12-man squad.
However, due to fixture congestion Vale MUST wake up to a very real probability… this won’t be the last double-banker we play this season so, due to the very short halves, Vale must impose their dominance early and take their goal scoring chances when they come, and finish the game as a contest as early as possible.
Vale: Sewell; de Weever; Bonsu; Legal-Miller; Borg; Bernard; Mataka; Rhoden; Walters; Nwanokwu (2); Richards
Sub: Otchere (1)
Goal Scoring Chart:
- Obi Nwanokwu - 27
- Chris Richards - 12
- Scott Borg - 10
- Austin Otchere – 8
- Jake Bernard - 7
- Tevon Webster - 3
- Shaquile Fakolujo - 2
- Paul Sewell - 2
- Devante Walters - 1
- Kyle Haynes-Robertson - 1
- David Bonsu - 1
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