Duffy back with brace to give Bels a boost

Belgraves 2, Vale Rec 1

THIS result was what Bels needed.

Although still pointless in the Priaulx League, they thoroughly deserved the victory against Vale Rec at the Track last night and no doubt it will be a huge morale booster for Ray Queripel and his side. While there is undeniable talent among the Bels ranks, cohesion had been lacking up to now, but it was much more of a team performance that earned them a quarter-final against Sylvans and it came despite going a goal down after just a couple of minutes.

Most of the crowd had not even taken their places in the stand when an unmarked Gareth Holden nodded home Jason Sarah's cross from the left as the visitors made a bright start playing into the wind.

Bels' heads did not drop though and within the next quarter of an hour they came close to levelling the score on three occasions as Vale lost their way.

Firstly Darragh Duffy hit the post with a header from Simon Marley's corner before Jody Bisson made two fine saves to deny both Joby Bourgaize and Marc McGrath.

However, the equaliser finally came after 28min. when Craig Cameron's crisp pass sent Duffy between two defenders before the striker applied a cool finish.

Just moments later, the Irishman made it two.

Another Marley corner from the left was not cleared and the ball was fed out to Bourgaize on the right. Duffy beat everyone to his low cross at the near post and his glancing touch found the net.

Several more opportunities were created but none could be converted.

For Bels, Duffy went close to completing a hat-trick, Marley hit the bar with a curling free kick and Brent Marquand had a goal disallowed for handball.

Meanwhile, Sarahs and substitute Matt Falla had near misses for Rec and in the dying seconds Marc Rihoy could not turn home Gregor Allan's inviting cross into the six-yard box.

But that would have been an injustice for Bels because they were the better side.

'We played some nice stuff tonight and having Mr Duffy available makes a difference,' said a relieved Queripel.

'It is just a shame we did not have more luck the times we hit the woodwork,' said a manager, whose recent switch to three central defenders with Bourgaize and Marquand as wingbacks paid off.

'I am not bothered that we have got Sylvans next because we can beat anyone on our day and people tell me that we are a cup side, so we will see if they are right.'

Vale coach Chris Hamon, who was deprived of Trim Morgan because of a sore knee, found it hard to explain his side's display after last week's promising performance against Sylvans.

'That was very disappointing tonight,' he said. 'The first 10 minutes or so were fine, but then we just seemed to get spooked by the wind and we did not do the basic things well.

'We had to make a couple of changes during the game, both positional and personnel, which did not help but Bels worked hard and you have to give them their due,' added Hamon.