Ten-man Vale FC back to winning ways in challenging league encounter versus Bexley Pumas

Bexley League Under 16 A Division League Game

27th March 2011

Vale FC 3 vs. Bexley Pumas 1

Vale FC Under 16s did themselves and the club proud today… playing in only their second game of 2011 against a very physical Bexley Pumas FC who were seemingly intent on pressing home their one-man numerical advantage. Much to Vale’s credit, to a man, though clearly rusty, they began to display a modicum of their technical superiority to make a match of it… even though they were playing with only ten men.

Shorn of Jake Bernard (school activities weekend), Keanu Legal-Miller (family commitments) and Shaquile Fakolujo (long-term injury/fitness problems), Vale were luckily able to call on the services of recently departed Chris Richards and the return of midfield enforcer Kyle Haynes-Robertson to provide viable manpower. In view of these pre-match circumstances, fatigue, knocks and injuries were always likely to have an impact on the outcome.

Settling admirably quickly and efficiently into their stride, Vale proved there’s a lot of truth in the old adage “form is temporary… class is permanent”. Watching the early exchanges it would have been excusable to think Vale had the numerical advantage… battling for every ball and keeping possession well, Vale went two up in the first fifteen minutes.

Devante Walters showed great strength and determination to finish off a well-worked move inspired by skipper Nwanokwu and helped on by Austinho Otchere for Walters to finish at the near post. Conscious of the need to maintain their shape and discipline, Vale continued to take the game to Pumas, with every man making outstanding contributions in every area of the pitch.

Pumas competed for every ball and clearly enjoyed more possession than their quality actually deserved, but Vale’s quality in possession and playing a high line meant that defenders de Weever, Bonsu and Borg were rarely seriously threatened. On the occasions the defensive line was breeched, keeper Jamie McLeod was on-point with every demand… excellent starting position, fantastic communication, safe handling and impressive kicking…. arguably his best game of the season.

Bonsu was immense at the heart of the defence, winning everything on the floor and in the air, before going on to set up others to play in front of him. Indeed, it was immediately after yet another one of his decisive interventions that Vale scored their second, with Paul Sewell profiting from great personal desire and effort to force the ball past the advancing keeper to put Vale 2-0 up after fifteen minutes.

De Weever and Borg concentrated on their defensive duties, but also distributed well to the midfield and forward line to keep the Pumas defence turning and feed Chris Richards and Austinho up top. Battle raged for the remainder of the first half, with Haynes-Robertson outstanding with his presence and effort in shutting the Pumas down. Walters and Sewell were a constant threat down each flank going forward in the 3-4-2 formation, with Nwanokwu (creative when on the ball) often being by-passed in the middle. Otchere ran and ran between departments, and Richards played the target-man role to perfection… showing great strength in holding the ball up before playing the midfield and Otchere in…

In short… a superb contribution was made by all to ensure Vale went into the half-time break 2-0 up.

With very little fault to focus on during the half-time team talk, Vale were encouraged to continue in the same vein for the second half and to shoot-on-sight and at every opportunity. However, the inevitable was to happen as fatigue eventually started to play a major role in the second half exchanges. This was exacerbated by the Pumas management team complaining and whingeing. Their players started to do the same, and also started to escalate the physical nature of their game. Not to be mugged out of their stride, Vale maintained their composure and, in patches (similar to the first half), when quality football was being played… it was being played by Vale.

Twenty minutes into the half saw Vale in general, and Austinho in particular, capitalise on their superior quality, discipline and commitment. Otchere’s game is characterised by his irrepressible will and desire to chase down seemingly lost causes and, after another lung-busting shutting down of the keeper, Austinho benefited from the ball being blasted at him by the keeper trying to clear his lines. The ball rebounded off Austinho’s body and ricocheted into the back of the net to put Vale 3-0 up, and by this stage, quite comfortably in control.

This seemed to spur Pumas into a sustained bout of almost frenzied whingeing and complaining… and late tackles. Vale were men enough to ride the onslaught but, as fatigue-related knocks and injuries started to impact on the game, Vale’s concentration lapsed momentarily. This led to a defensive mix-up that finished with McLeod being beaten by an unstoppable shot from twenty yards after a period of sustained Pumas pressure.

With five minutes left and Vale running down the clock, skipper Nwanokwu went on a surging run at the heart of the Pumas defence. After having slipped the ball through to Otchere on the edge of the area, Nwanokwu was late tackled from behind by the Pumas skipper by what can only be described as a reckless and potentially leg-breaking tackle. Unable to continue, Nwanokwu was assisted off the field of play before Borg shot the free kick lamely into the arms of the Pumas keeper.

All in all… considering Vale started with only ten men, and at times throughout the game they were reduced to nine with Otchere suffering cramp and Nwanokwu unable to continue, Vale did exceptionally well. Though understandably rusty at times, Vale showed immense character, commitment, graft and craft, skill, quality and ability... all great qualities in their build-up to the April 10th Bexley League Under 16 Cup Final… a fully deserved day out for the boys in recognition of and reward for their superb efforts in what has been a very challenging season.

Sadly, the final will probably be missed by the skipper… hospital x-ray reports show a badly sprained ankle and ligament damage… typical of the type of injuries sustained when players haven’t been playing regularly, are rusty, have slightly lost their edge and sharpness, and playing a full game against a physical side in hot conditions on a hard surface…

However… to keep it on a positive note… well done lads… you did us proud!

Vale: McLeod; de Weever; Bonsu; Borg; Sewell (1); Haynes-Robertson; Nwanokwu; Walters (1); Richards; Otchere (1)

Goal Scoring Chart:
1. Obi Nwanokwu - 30
2. Austin Otchere – 13
3. Chris Richards – 12
4. Scott Borg - 12
5. Jake Bernard - 7
6. Tevon Webster - 3
7. Shaquile Fakolujo - 2
8. Paul Sewell - 3
9. Devante Walters - 2
10. Kyle Haynes-Robertson - 1
11. David Bonsu - 1

Quade Signs 2.5 year deal with CPFC

Great News - We would like to announce that Quade Taylor from the under 16's championship winning squad last season, has last friday signed a 2 and a half year contract with Crystal Palace F.C we would like to wish him all the best in what I am sure will be a glittering career. Well done Quade. - Coach Francis