North go clear at the top

Vale Rec 2, North 5

NORTH sunk neighbours Vale Rec with an energetic and deserved 5-2 victory at the Corbet Field to move three points clear at the top of the Cable & Wireless Priaulx League table last night. Two well-taken goals apiece from youngsters Dave Rihoy and Antony Saunders killed off their fierce rivals with young Kyle Stone adding a fifth to preserve their unbeaten league start.

The influential Tristram Morgan struck twice for previously unbeaten Vale who were swept aside by their Grand Fort Road rivals.

The home side began well and were camped in their opponents' half, but failed to break the deadlock.

But the visitors struck first with a memorable goal from Saunders. After releasing Rihoy down the left he continued his unchallenged run into the box and volleyed home a superb cross from his team-mate.

Five minutes later it was 2-0 as Rihoy punished defensive ineptitude with a sweetly struck low shot past Bisson from just outside the box.

But two minutes later Morgan's curling free-kick just beat Paul de Garis at his near post to reduce the deficit.

Just before the break Bisson failed to hold on to a corner and Saunders rifled a close range shot into the top corner to make it 3-1.

Two minutes after the half-time breather Vale were back in it as Morgan made no mistake from eight yards out after Mark Ogier had headed Stuart Bisson's cross back across goal.

However, Vale's defensive frailty was exposed again on the hour when Rihoy robbed Jason Sarahs and finished clinically to make it 4-2.

Ollie McKenzie, who had an accomplished game at left-back to celebrate his first senior island call-up, then set up Stone to bury Vale.

Bels gained their second league win of the season with a convincing 7-0 win against Rovers to climb above them in the table. Paul O'Neill and Mark McGrath both hit hat-tricks with Darragh Duffy grabbing the other.