Island FM tuned out by Vale Rec

Vale Rec 12, Island FM 0

IT WAS the run out Vale Rec needed. Chris Hamon's men were in a no-win situation the minute they were drawn against Island FM, but the green-and-yellows made the most of the fixture with what should be a confidence-boosting display ahead of far more taxing encounters.

'We have been playing decent stuff all season, but tonight we went and scored a lot of goals,' said coach Hamon.

'I would have preferred scoring just three tonight and saving the other nine for another time,' he added with a grin.

The match was over as a contest well before half-time, by which point Rec were seven goals to the good.

Gareth Holden had given them the lead in the seventh minute with a vicious strike, but in the opening 20 minutes the Priaulx outfit came down to their Business League opponents' level.

Then Rec went up through the gears and scored six in a 13-minute period.

Malcolm Symons got the ball rolling before Laurence Abbott scored two of his first half hat-trick.

Mark Ramsden added a delightful chipped fifth and Abbott notched his third although the pick of goals came from Marc Rihoy, who scored the seventh with a jinking run and cool finish reminiscent of a famous David Ginola effort for Spurs against Barnsley.

Unfortunately, the half ended with some fisticuffs after Jason Sarahs took unkindly to Carl Wallbridge's challenge. Both were booked by Ian Drillot, somewhat generously.

Moments after the turnaround, Abbott scored his fourth and there were also goals for Lee Ogier and Stuart Bisson plus two more for Rihoy as Rec eased into double figures.

Midway through the half, to make Island FM's misery complete, Liam Davey, who had already been cautioned, was shown a straight red by Drillot after he had a go at Sarahs when the Vale man was on the ground.

However, Island FM coach Adie Exall looked at the positives after the game.

'To come down to the Corbet Field, play under the floodlights in front of a good crowd in a nice experience for these lads,' he said.

'It is a big drop from the Priaulx to the Business League and in the end their fitness and football ability shone through.'

Hamon added that he was happy his squad came through unscathed.

'OK, we have scored 12, but at least they have come from what I would call open play - we have made those opportunities for ourselves.

'Luckily we have come away with no injuries, it was quite comfortable in the end and I have managed to have a look at a few things tonight,' he said.