HIGH ADMIT SOUTH WALES ALLIANCE DIVISION TWO
VALE UNITED ............... 5 ST JOSEPH’S ................. 0
ITS beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and Vale United are starting to resemble promotion ponies, writes Tony Poole.
Last Saturday leafy Corntown was not only lit up by Christmas decorations, but also a decorated display from the Lloyd Williams all stars.
It brought them a landslide victory over promotion rivals St Joseph’s, who were leapfrogged by the Cabo Roche aristocrats.
Vale currently occupy fourth place, but they only trail the team in the third promotion spot, Cardiff Cosmopolitan, by two points with a useful three games in hand.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround, but plenty of hard work is in store for Vale before they can tuck in to the Christmas spirit.
This Saturday they away to Carnetown, and on December 16 comes a crunch home game with second-placed Penrhiwfer.
The former Welsh League club were the last side to lower Vale colours, triumphing 3-1 way back on August 30.
Since then, however, the boys from leafy Corntown have registered six straight league wins to push for promotion.
Against St Joes, canny Scot Jay Tominey was at his goal-poaching best, garnishing a tip-top display with a hat-trick.
There were single strikes from club record signing Luke Cox and top scorer Jacky Dummett, who has now netted 14 times this term to head Tominey by three goals.
A fine Danny Hanson shooting display constantly worried sheep in adjoining fields and while the glamour boys up top sparkled, Giovanni Bertorelli was saddled with midfield workhorse duties in the absence of Philip Caseley.
And the ex-Garw star proved a galloping success, as did overseas import Steve Gauci, Dick Evans and Jay Ellis.
Barring 10 goal kicks that went straight out, goalie Gerwyn Teague could have gone Christmas shopping while fivestar Ryan Jenkins claimed man of the match honours.