Vale Rec remain realistic after key departures

DESPITE their impressive rise last season, Vale Rec's ambitions remain the same – a top-three Priaulx League finish.

After finishing fifth during 2011-12, the coaching reins were handed to Carl Le Tissier and he immediately led the Corbet Field side to a runner-up place.

For a lengthy spell, they even battled it out with Bels for the title.

However, three key names from that successful team, who also reached the Stranger Cup final, have gone, namely Ross Elliott travelling, Naro Zimmerman to North and Rory Moriarty to St Martin's.

It will mean an opportunity for a number of youngsters. And top of that list are highly-talented centre-back Nick Rumens and attacking midfielder Seb Skillen, who are both tipped for big things.

However, Le Tissier remains realistic in his aims for the new campaign after his side lost on penalties to subsequently-disqualified Rangers in the Rawlinson Cup before being knocked out by Rovers in the semi-final last week.

They did hit back to get revenge on Rovers in the weekend's Jeremie Cup first round tie, winning 3-1.

'I always said that I hoped we could be pushing on to challenge for the title in three years and we are only entering my second,' he said.