Vale Rec dent neighbours' title challenge

North 1, Vale Rec 3

VALE REC are not in the title hunt but they certainly enjoyed having their say in it last night. The fact that it was their Grand Fort Road neighbours North who were on the receiving end of Chris Hamon's side's endeavours made it just that little bit sweeter.

By inflicting the chocolate-and-blues' fourth defeat of the season, Rec gave Bels even more breathing space at the top of the Priaulx League.

Although Micky Ogier's side are level on points with North, they have four games in hand and, given this season's form, it is hard to see them slipping up from here.

The first of those matches is at Blanche Pierre Lane tonight and with trips to the Corbet Field and Northfield coming up on Saturday and Tuesday respectively, this could arguably be the week in which the championship is decided.

However, Hamon had his own ideas.

'We enjoy beating anybody,' he said. 'Bels on Saturday is another challenge. We have done them a bit of a favour here, but we will try and level it up on Saturday with another win.

'We are desperate to finish in the top three. We are aiming for a Wheway Cup place and we also have the FA Cup to go for.

'We are starting to play better. As long as we can keep people fit and healthy we have got a chance.'

Rec arrived at Northfield with a gameplan and they stuck to it admirably. Their cause was helped, though, when their hosts were reduced to 10 men after just 21 minutes.

Steve Ozanne was the man who received his marching orders after Marc Rihoy was brought down in the box as he found himself the meat in a sandwich of the North right-back and Stuart Polson.

Referee Mark Le Tissier pointed to the spot and, seeing Ozanne as the last man, sent him off. The first decision was correct, the second understandable although it was debateable as to who fouled Rihoy.

Gareth Holden made no mistake with the penalty, his top corner effort giving Paul de Garis no chance.

Twelve minutes later the Rec striker was only too happy to show off his dead-ball prowess once more and double the lead. On this occasion it was a 20-yard free kick which he curled over the wall and beyond the despairing goalkeeper.

The game was made safe 17 minutes into the second half.

Holden was denied the chance of a hat-trick by a fine last-ditch Polson tackle, but the ball fell to Lee Ogier and he calmly side-footed home.

Dave Rihoy went close with a couple of efforts for the home side as the clock ran down, but it was not until stoppage time that the consolation arrived - Craig Young hammering home a loose ball after Vale failed to clear.

'We knew if we were to play our game we would cause them trouble,' Hamon said. 'I was a bit disappointed with the second half. We were just a little sloppy in our passing and we just gave the ball away when we got it, but the lads gave 110 per cent effort to get it back.'

North coach Trim Morgan vowed to battle on.

'The best thing to come out of the game was how we worked as a team and stayed together and that's what is going to happen throughout the rest of the season,' he said.