Skipper Nwanokwu scores four as Vale maintain their surge to the top!

Vale FC 9 vs. Gravesend Spartans 2

League Match 7^th November 2010

Vale U16s continued to claw back the points deficit in the Bexley League Under 16 A Division with this well-worked win against a spirited, well organised and competitive Gravesend Spartans side.

The opening exchanges were relatively cagey until Vale started to get into their stride by playing the ball to feet and showing their technical quality. Sticking to the task and assessing the opposition in a sensible and mature manner, Vale’s patience paid off after ten minutes when skipper Nwanokwu put them 1-0 up, then 2-0 up 20 minutes later, showing growing confidence and clinical finishing ability in his new role as second striker.

Jamie McLeod was hardly tested in goal for the first 35 minutes, but got beaten by a speculative near post effort on a rare Gravesend break. 2-1 down at the half time break, Gravesend demonstrated that, if allowed to play, they were a dangerous outfit and will punish their opponents. With this warning ringing in their ears from Coach Fakolujo, Vale went back into the second half fray in a more determined manner. Skipper Nwanokwu eased any lingering nerves with his third and fourth goals of the match, putting the result pretty much beyond dispute.

Vale developed on their 4-0 lead and rose to the occasion with increased confidence, and the goals eventually began to flow in keeping with the flowing football Vale are capable of. Top striker Chris Richards, who had made an excellent contribution as the Vale target man with his admirably high work rate, converted two chances that his effort and industry had deserved. Richards and Nwanokwu appear to be developing a very potent understanding and strike partnership that seems full of goals and very encouraging for the future.

Defenders Walters, Bonsu, Legal-Miller and Rhoden rarely, if ever, looked like being seriously threatened, with Bonsu particularly commanding in the air to help keep the pressure in the Gravesend half of the pitch, and all four were strong in the tackle and creative in possession, feeding the midfield and forwards throughout the match.

Daniel de Weever produced a sterling holding midfield role in breaking up play, and had the increasingly-influential Shaquile Fakolujo playing around him to create and deliver a consistent series of short and long-range passes from central midfield. Wide-men Bernard and Borg played to instructions and supplied the front line with a stream of quality deliveries.

Substitutes Sewell and Otchere were introduced to good effect, with Sewell showing some quality in his movement off the ball and a growing understanding of the requirements for “playing the Vale way”. Otchere got on the score sheet again for the second game running… two goals in two games off the bench is a very respectable set of statistics for the newcomer, who shows great determination and will to get involved to make a positive impact on the game.

The pick of the goals came from Jake Bernard and Scott Borg to bring the score to 9-2, after Gravesend clawed one back to make it 7-2 after a Vale defensive lapse in concentration. Firstly, Bernard took a direct free kick from outside the area which he curled over the wall and under the bar… a superbly controlled effort.

However, Borg served up probably the goal of the game to top Bernard’s claim. Gaining possession 30 yards out he kept the ball close to his feet and, with no visible passing option in front of him, unleashed an unstoppable drive from 25 yards out that crashed into the net top bins, leaving the keeper with no chance of saving it.

All in all, this was a steady, sensible and sturdy performance by Vale, where bagging the three points was more important than the performance and goal margin. Whilst Vale didn’t hit their usual free-flowing style consistently throughout the game, they certainly outplayed their opponents and, where the attractive football was being played, it was being played by Vale. So… despite conceding goals for the first time this season, this was a good result against decent opposition… another nine goals and three points in the bag…

Well done Vale!

Vale:    McLeod; Rhoden; Bonsu; Legal-Miller; Borg (1); Bernard (1); Fakolujo; De Weever; Walters; Nwanokwu (4); Richards (2)

Sewell; Otchere (1);

Goal Scoring Chart:

1. Obi Nwanokwu – 11
2. Chris Richards – 10
3. Scott Borg – 5
4. Jake Bernard – 5
5. Tevon Webster – 3
6. Austin Otchere – 2
7. Devante Walters – 2
8. Shaquile Fakolujo – 1
9. Kyle Haynes-Robertson - 1