DIVISION TWO

GRAIG FC ...................... 1 VALE UNITED ............... 1

ONE thing’s for sure if Vale United are to be seen on the Division One circuit next winter then they will have to play a lot better than this, writes Tony Poole.

The boys from leafy Corntown were warm favourites to take all three points against lowly Graig FC at iconic Ynysangharad Park.

But the Pontypridd side obviously hadn’t read the script, as on the day they seemed to possess more in the way of both pride and passion.

The sheer will to win was missing, as Vale were unable to get going and remained in first gear throughout.

“Graig have improved since we beat them earlier in the season at home 10-0 – that said we should have won by a comfortable margin,” said Vale United CEO Lloyd Williams.

“At the end of the day Jay Tominey was the only player who could hold his head high, as he led by example.

“We did have chances to win it late on only to hit the woodwork on several occasions, but all in all we cannot argue with the result.

“The real pity of it all is that we don’t have a game on Saturday, as hopefully the boys could have drawn a line under this poor Graig display.

“Since the turn of the year our season has been stop-start, but the team must deal with it if we are to remain in the promotion race.’’

Graig, who had lost 13 and drawn two from 22 league starts, showed they meant business in taking an early lead.

It wasn’t until around the hour mark that Vale levelled with canny Scot Tominey rifling home a 13th goal of the season.

Top scorer Jack Dummett was then presented with a few chances to win, but it just wasn’t to be for Vale on the day.

A first draw of the season left them in fifth spot in the table.