After an even and competitive opening 20 minutes, once the chocolate-and-blues took the lead they went on to exert their authority in convincing fashion.
Their blend of youth and experience worked cohesively and impressively whereas Rec, missing several key players, looked very much like the side in transition that head coach Mark Romeril warned they might be heading into the season.
In the early exchanges it looked as though it could turn into an intriguing battle of the two No 11s as both Tyrese Kelly and Owen Wallbridge tried to torment the opposing defence with their pace and trickery, with a fair degree of success, but the added experience of the latter shone through in his finishing as the first half progressed.
It was he who gave North the lead, albeit slightly fortuitously, in the 21st minute.
Wallbridge made a great run through the inside left channel as Archie Drillot played the ball over the top and Vale Rec goalkeeper Jason Martin anticipated that the forward would attempt to lob him, which appeared to be his initial intention. However, Wallbridge missed his first flick at the ball, Martin was committed to his jump and he went over it, allowing the alert Northerner to slot into an empty net.
There was no doubting the quality of Wallbridge’s second a dozen minutes later, though.
This time Ben Bullock played the ball forward and, having collected it out on the left, Wallbridge cut inside a defender and thumped a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
North now had all the momentum and Wallbridge was also involved in the third on 37min. as his cross picked out an unmarked Keene Domaille, who took his time before laying the ball off to Dave Rihoy and his drive took a slight deflection before nestling in the net.
Had Kelly made the most of a good chance just 20 seconds into the second half, Rec might have sensed a comeback, but he blazed over the bar and North quickly resumed full control of the contest.
They could have scored several more, but they found Martin in fine form between the sticks and it was not until quarter-of-an-hour from the end that captain River Marsh added a fourth for his side with a pinpoint first-time strike into the bottom corner after Rec had failed to clear a set-piece.
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