Tough going for Vale (From Congleton Guardian)

Tough going for Vale

4:35pm Friday 5th December 2008

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Vale Juniors under 11s.

Egerton 8 - Vale Juniors 4.

Vale found the going tough against a skilfull Egerton side.

Right from the start Egerton attacked, Warburton was out of his goal quickly to deny the striker and Spooner and Moss tackled well.

Hooper also did well as he brought the ball out from the right back position on numerous accasions.

Up front Hawkins was battling for every ball, and had a shot saved after combining well with Barton.

Barton also went close with another shot.

Egerton were pressing though, and only a great tackle from Spooner stopped one attack.

However they eventually broke through and got two quick goals.

Vale didn't give up, and Hawkins had another shot saved.

Lewis was playing well down the right, and was unlucky when a fine run was only stopped with a great tackle.

Barton went close after good work from Needham and Laird set him up.

Vale's battling finally got the goal they deserved as Barton shot home after Laird set him up.

However Egerton hit back with two more goals as Vale's concentration slipped.

At the end of the half more good work from Lewis set up Barton, but his shot waqs well saved.

The second half saw Vale match Egerton for the first 15 minutes.

Needham's skill set up Barton, but his shot went over the bar, and Podmore won the ball well but his through pass was just too strong.

At the other end Warburton saved well, and Kirby was in the thick of the action as he used his head and feet to deny Egerton.

Moss showed his strength as he battled with the forwards in the box, and Spooner had to be alert as Egerton broke down the right wing.

Lewis and Harpur were being kept busy by the Egerton left wingers, and made some strong challenges, but eventually Egerton increased their lead.

There then followed a frantic last 15 minutes as Vale hit straight back, with Barton getting his second with a nicely placed shot into the bottom corner.

Egerton then got two more quick goals, but Vale hit back again as Lewis did really well to win the ball and set up Hooper who cut in from the wing and smashed the ball into the top corner.

Yet again Egerton came straight back and scored again, but Vale weren't finished and Barton completed his hat-trick from a great Kirby through ball.

Right at the end Vale produced the best move of the match as Barton, Laird and Podmore combined with Podmore coolly slotting the ball home only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

Another league defeat maybe, but Vale proved that when they put their minds to it and, as they did sporadically through the match, really get stuck into the opposition they can match the best teams in the league.

Man of the Match - Ciaran Lewis - strong on the right and did really well for the third goal.

Player of the week : Brian Barton.

Team: J Buckley (1), J Warburton (1), Ciaran Lewis (3), Sam Spooner (4), Joel Harpur (5), Harry Podmore (6), Kieran Wilton (7), Jack Rodgers (8), George Hooper (9), Kyle Moss (10), Harrison Hawkins (11), Josh Kirby (Captain 14), Daniel Needham (16), Brian Barton (17), Angus Laird (20).

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