Rihoy rescues sluggish North

North 4, Vale Rec 3

NORTH and Vale Rec served up a derby thriller at Northfield last night. But it was the home side who defeated their Grand Fort Road neighbours in a highly entertaining topsy-turvy encounter to bounce back to the summit of the Cable & Wireless Priaulx League.

But the visitors can justifiably feel aggrieved to have returned across the road empty-handed after a gallant and spirited fightback.

Spectators at Northfield this season though cannot argue they are not getting their money's worth nor witnessing an abundance of goals.

North began sluggishly and a resurgent Matt Falla punished some slack marking to head Rec in front from Gregor Allan's whipped in corner after just five minutes.

The goalscorer, who has got his appetite back after injury setbacks, nearly added a second 10 minutes later, but shot narrowly wide as North unusually lacked any real attacking penetration or bite.

Vale Rec dominated the opening 25 minutes and North's inept performance was frustrating coach Geoff Tardif, who questioned how much they wanted to win the game.

But a lapse of concentration and misplaced pass by Jason Sarahs led to Jon Veron's clever flick releasing Antony Saunders and his low drive went past the outrushing deputising goalkeeper Tim Nicolle for an equaliser. It was a goal they scarcely deserved with only Kyle Stone shining for Tardif's young guns.

Five minutes into the second period Dave Rihoy was North's saviour as he made a fabulous goal-line clearance to deny Danny Bisson putting the visitors ahead.

Shortly after Rec squandered numerous gilt-edged chances to put the game beyond their opponents' reach with Bisson again and Sarahs twice the chief culprits.

They were made to pay as North suddenly woke up and hit them with three goals in quick succession.

First, somehow Olly McKenzie's low left-footed free-kick from outside the box squirmed into the net after it seemed to get a slight deflection off the defensive wall.

Then, Rihoy hit two stunning strikes in two minutes - the first drilling a low shot past Nicolle from just outside the area, and then an even better effort that arrowed into the top corner from further out after a dazzling run at a retreating defence.

But to their immense credit Rec did not capitulate or throw in the towel and after Trim Morgan had pulled one back from close range after North failed to clear their lines, Falla hit a fantastic shot into the top corner to further reduce the arrears with 15 minutes left.

At the Track, two goals apiece from Adie Exall and Matt Le Cras gave Sylvans a 4-2 victory over Bels for whom Darragh Duffy and Simon Marley netted.

Referee Mark Fallaize sent off Sylvans' Matt Drillot in the second half.