Canha can - Rec can’t

While North eased past St Martin’s 3-0 thanks to strikes from Sam Murray, Marc McGrath and Luke Mollet, the FNB Priaulx League champions stuttered to a wholly fortuitous 3-1 win over Vale Rec at the Track, being baled out by two-goal Carlos Canha at one end and keeper Josh Addison at the other.

Rovers were very largely unchanged from the Upton Park Trophy loss while one significant change Vale made was the reintroduction of GFC regular Seb Skillen, who sporting his new charity-driven shaven head ripped Rovers open down the blues’ right and with a low ball to the back post Zac Masterton-Pipet nipped in to score from a yard.

Soon after only a good block by Addison prevented the nippy youngster from getting a second and a minute later the keeper was making a fine one-handed save from Jack Smith’s drive.

Then, out of the blue, a piece of Carlos Canha magic and Rovers were level.

For the second period Rovers replaced Will Fazakerley with Dale Webb but the goalmouth action initially came at the other end after a lazy Louis Falla challenge on Rory Moriarty brought about a clear penalty. Damian Larkin struck it too close to the keeper and Addison saved well.

Rovers were still living dangerously and Skillen went close to punishing a Tom Strawbridge lapse, but yet again it was the blues who showed how to put away chances, on the hour mark Webb finishing clinically.

Rec then raged as a linesman convinced the young ref that he was wrong to award a second penalty and with his decision changed Rovers escaped again.

Sub Glenn Le Tissier also wasted three fine chances and Skillen went close before, in the 89th minute, the classy Canha headed home.