Advantage Belgraves

Vale Rec 1, Bels 2

HOW ironic is it that a player who started the season in North colours may yet shoot Bels to their third title in four seasons?

AJ Saunders baled out Bels in the Corbet Field sunshine on Saturday afternoon leaving his boss a happy man having just learned North had dropped points across the road.

'He's made a helluva of a difference to us. We've now got a target man and someone to aim for and hold the ball up,' said a beaming Micky Ogier.

And didn't they need him.

Bels, without an unwell Dave Rihoy, had fallen behind to an absolute cracker from Curtis Le Noury and without the threat of 49-goal man Rihoy, were struggling on a heavy surface.

But with half-time just around the corner Saunders headed the equaliser and 11 minutes into the second period cracked in a left-foot shot to beat Jody Bisson from 15 yards.

Ogier admitted that Vale, full of energy and with Neil Sarahs dominant at the back, had not made it easy for his side.