HIGHADMIT SOUTH WALES ALLIANCE: DIVISION TWO:

VALE UNITED .............11 ABERFAN SOCIAL ........1

VALE United might have come up just short of another promotion, but lessons learned this time around will serve them well next winter, writes Tony Poole.

The boys from leafy Corntown eventually had to settle for a fifth-place finish, and all things considered that’s a fine achievement during a first season at this level.

When the “Beast from the East” struck it literally blew away the promotion hopes of Lloyd Williams and his merry men.

Just one game was played in five weeks dur- ing a bleak midwinter lull, leaving them with a manic end to the campaign.

However, there’s nothing anyone can do about the weather, and Vale like all clubs simply had to grin and bear it.

Last week they rounded off the campaign with two home matches - and they proved much too strong for under-strength Aberfan Social Club.

Record signing Luke Cox bagged another hattrick and there were braces for both Owyn Poole and Dick Evans.

Single strikes went against the names of teenage sensation Jac Wisenden, Jimmy Davies, Danny Hanson and overseas import Giovanni Bertorelli.

The final game of the season saw them host Blaenrhondda and the runaway champions had to work hard for a 4-2 success. The former Welsh League club led 3-0 at half time before a 19th goal of the season from fox in the box Cox got Vale going.

However, Blaenrhondda made it 4-1 before the final goal of the season was claimed by Jay Ellis.

The other promoted clubs were high-flying Cardiff Airport, who experienced late lift off, and Penrhiwfer with Cardiff Cosmopolitan finishing just outside the promotion places.

Fifth-placed Vale won 18 of 30 league outings with three drawn and nine lost while Jack Dummett was the Golden Boot winner on the back of 24 goals.