MacNab steals the points

Belgraves 1, Vale Rec 2

VALE REC can still retain the Priaulx League title, said an upbeat Ray Blondel after this deserved win at the Track last night. Goals from Craig Tyrrell and David MacNab won the day and allowed Vale supporters to utter 'who needs Danny Bisson anyway?'.

Tyrrell scored a cracker and MacNab scrambled home the winner to prompt their manager to comment, in his usual sardonic manner: 'We're not in the worst position in the world.'

Blondel was as pleased with the attitude of his team, as much as the result.

'What we showed out their tonight was character and guts.

'Having Craig Tyrrell back is a plus, but we've got to be careful with him.'

And you can see why.

The fit again striker's 42rd minute opener was a touch of class, although it owed much to a defensive slip by veteran Micky Ogier.

Unexpectedly presented with the ball 12 yards out and with his back to goal, Tyrrell spun on a sixpence and finished expertly with a shot across goalkeeper Rhys Gower.

Ray, in his heyday, could not have done better himself.

The goal had been coming.

Bels, buoyed by that Stranger Cup semi-final win over the same side a week earlier, were bright enough early on but on this occasion the youngsters lacked the tactical discipline required to beat a less talented side.

As the half wore on, Vale took control and Tyrrell's goal was no surprise.

The second half was highly entertaining with stacks of goalmouth incident, mostly at Gower's end, and a stonewall penalty for Bels ignored by referee Ted Teed.

Wayne Cicmic was flattened by Mark Elliott but, from distance, Teed waved play on to Bels' collective disgust.

Bels' equaliser came on 52min. and Cicmic, dangerous on the rare occasions he did get the ball, created it.

The speedy midfielder whipped in a cross from the left and Liam Davey who earlier had missed an almost open goal, volleyed in at the near post.

But it was Vale, not the home side, who reacted positively to the goal.

Thereafter Bels' goal led a charmed life and when Jason Sarahs climbed high to head a corner goalwards, Bels could not clear and MacNab scrambled in the winner from close range.

Of the two keepers Vale's stand-in Tim Nicolle was the less busy.

The youngster got his chance when just moments before the kick-off Jody Bisson withdrew with an arm injury.