Ramsden's goal lit up Vale's win

MARK RAMSDEN may not score a better goal this season than the one he scored at the Corbet Field last Wednesday evening. If he does, then I want to be there when it happens.

The young Vale Rec midfielder scored the third goal in a 3-0 win against Rovers in this Youth Two clash, which saw Tony Clarkson's boys move into second spot in the table, breathing down the necks of table-toppers Bels.

Ramsden's goal was simply a great effort because he meant to do it. He picked the ball up close to the touchline near the entrance gate of the Corbet Field, looked up, picked his spot and drove a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

On a sodden pitch, which got worse as the evening went on, with rain driving across the pitch, it was Vale Rec who dominated the proceedings throughout, but to Rovers' credit they look so much more organised under Ian Champion.

The yellow-and-greens took a deserved lead through Nick Falla and when Simon Le Pelley pivoted well to score the second, it looked an uphill battle for the Port Soif youngsters.

But that was not the case. Champion's lads dug in and although playing with a lone striker in Nick Coleman - who worked his socks off all evening with little reward - they attacked and defended well as a team.

Emile Thompson and Ross Elliott formed a solid central partnership in the heart of the Vale Rec defence, which frustrated the blue-and-whites for most of the first half.

The second period produced some good pass-and-move football from both sides but Ramsden's goal sealed the points and the fortunes of Clarkson's young charges who seem to improve with each match.

Rovers' coach Champion was forced to be a linesman on the night when his duties should have surely been in the dugout encouraging and coaching his young troops.

Near the end of the game, he had to carry one of his injured players to the dressing room before resuming his duties on the line.

I expect that, on a cold and rainy night, most people were watching the high-profile Premiership match on television because I did not see one senior player or committee man from Rovers in attendance.

Most other clubs would call it unprofessional not to have a linesman, but I would advise Rovers to turn up occasionally to away games to watch their future senior players and maybe offer their services to make Champion's job a little easier.

Meanwhile, last week only two other youth games were played and they were Youth Three matches. Bels beat St Martin's 6-2 and Robbie Williams was the hero with four goals to his credit.

Leaders North put six goals past Rangers without reply; Matt Loaring (2), Scott Bougourd (2), Jamie Le Cheminant and Doug Edwards found the net.

North will face second-placed Bels on Saturday at Northfield at 10.30am.

I did not envy Tony Vance last weekend. He had to go to bed thinking how to pick his under-18s off the floor after a crushing 5-0 defeat against Wiltshire in the SWCC Youth Championships.

Twenty-four hours later, he had somehow convinced a tired and confidence-drained squad to a superb 1-0 victory against Bucks & Berks.

Congratulations to all the squad and the management and training team.