League Match - 17th October 2010:
Bexley Pumas FC U16 0 - Vale FC U16 5
Reduced to a squad of 13 available players, Vale met newcomers to the A Division Bexley Pumas in this 2010-2011 season-opener, away from home, and were immediately faced with a tense atmosphere after their late arrival. However, coach Fakolujo expertly managed to get his squad focused on the job at hand and, to their credit, they rose to the occasion admirably. Not only were they challenged with an unknown entity in their opponents, the team were also charged with adopting an unfamiliar formation with full-backs Scott Borg and Zach Rhoden encouraged to play high, push on and provide additional attacking fire power down their respective flanks. Both players adapted exceptionally well and proved a constant thorn in the Pumas' side.
On a poor playing surface Vale stayed patient throughout the early exchanges, refusing to resort to the long-ball game and tried to produce their now customary brand of flowing possession football to feet. Their patience paid off handsomely as their quality prevailed over a somewhat physical Pumas side. Tevon Webster broke Pumas' resistance after 20 minutes with a well-worked and comfortably dispatched left-foot finish to settle Vale nerves. With confidence soaring, Vale attacked relentlessly through the middle and down the flanks, and this pressure paid off when Jake Bernard's shot was saved by the keeper, but cannoned off a Pumas defender to score an own goal and put Vale 2-0 up going into the half-time break.
Not to discredit Pumas, who were well organised and provided a good physical challenge, much of their attacking play came through the middle, and the Vale central defensive partnership of Keanu Legal-Miller and David Bonsu were more than up to the task of dealing with most threats posed. On the rare occasion the Vale back four was breached, goalkeeper Jamie McLeod was in assured form, benefiting from near-perfect starting positions to nullify Pumas breaks.
The second half saw Vale increase their ascendancy, playing, at times, irresistible football. Kyle Haynes-Robertson made an outstanding holding midfield contribution, covering the defensive back four and breaking up play. Daniel de Weever made a fantastic cameo appearance, slotting into his midfield role to establish continuity and stability.
This match also saw two new players make their debuts with the team and, it must be said, to encouraging effect. Devante Walters came on for the start of the second half at left midfield in place of Bernard, and showed good quality in his composure and keeping the game simple. He demonstrated great technical ability and the will to play his team-mates in, and was very unlucky not to score from a left-footed effort during a goalmouth scramble. He had a significant and positive influence on the game.
Shaquile Fakolujo partnered Obi in central midfield, playing the holding role, with Nwanokwu pushing up to support the forwards. Fakolujo showed tenacity in the tackle and the ability to set others up with an array of short and long-range passes. He was also very unlucky not to get onto the score sheet in the first half when his fierce 25-yard drive was tipped over the bar by the Pumas goalkeeper. Both debutants made very impressive and commendable contributions in their first run-outs.
Tevon Webster continued the second half as he'd started the first, being a constant threat on the Pumas goal. He went on to score another two goals in the second half after excellent team play involving end-to-end passages of play of inspirational quality. Centre forward Chris Richards played the target-man role to perfection, with tireless running across the opposition back four, held the ball up well and played others in at every opportunity. He too was unlucky not to get on the score sheet but, like most strikers, his confidence will return when he scores his first goal and, no doubt, with his ability, it will be the first of many this season!
After a committed and creative contribution to the flow of the game, the industrious and motivational skipper Obi Nwanokwu opened his account for the season by scoring the fifth for Vale, showing superb composure and technical aplomb to steer his shot low and hard into the bottom corner of the Pumas net, leaving the keeper with no chance to save the shot.
All in all, an excellent start to the 2010-2011 league campaign... 5 goals, a clean sheet and all the points in the bag. But, possibly even more exciting than the match statistics, is the manner in which this result was achieved. In patches, Vale showed glimpses of the imperious form and quality that became their trademark last season. The expectation now is for Vale to build on this performance and establish themselves as the team to beat this season.
Great performance... bodes well for the future... well done!
Vale FC: McLeod; Rhoden; Borg; Bonsu; Legal-Miller; Haynes-Robertson; Bernard; Fakolujo; Nwanokwu (1); Webster (3); Richards
de Weever; Walters
Pich Side Reporter : Gus Nwanokwu
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