Gareth Holden fires Vale Rec into an early lead at substitute pitch St Sampson’s High. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0883350)
Vale Rec 4, Frome Collegians 1
VALE REC established themselves as serious contenders to take the Somerset Senior Cup as they enjoyed an emphatic victory over Frome Collegians at Sampson’s High on Saturday.
The yellow-and-greens beat Castle Cary 3-2 in the first round last month and they continued in the same vein against Frome who had defeated reigning champions Bridgwater Town.
Rec’s assistant coach Carl Le Tissier agreed that the Guernsey side could go all the way.
‘They’ve beaten the holders from last year,’ he said.
‘We scored four today and we could have scored nine or 10. It was an excellent performance and that was the best we’ve played all season.
‘We got a bit sloppy in the second half but the game was won by then. It was the best football we’ve played all season.’
The match was moved to St Sampson’s after the Corbet Field was judged unplayable.
Le Tissier paid special thanks to the Guernsey Football Association for getting the match played and he was certainly paying special thanks to Gareth Holden when he put Rec ahead in the first three minutes.
The striker received the ball in the area to the right of the goal.
He stepped inside and shot in with his left foot.
It was a cracking goal.
But Rec’s advantage was shortlived as Frome scored straight from the restart when their centre forward Luke Oakes broke free. Rec goalkeeper Jody Bisson got a hand to Oakes’ low shot but could not keep it out.
The visitors’ main threats were Oakes and his strike partner Clinton Hartley.
But thanks to Mark Ramsden and Rory Moriarty, Rec suffocated their opponents in midfield and Frome struggled to get the ball to their forwards.
Rec were calling all the shots and had a number of chances that went begging.
They eventually got their second goal, five minutes from half time, through a fantastic 25-yard strike by Marc Rihoy.
They added their third a couple minutes into the second half, when Karl Bisson, who had a superb game on the right wing, threaded a dangerous ball into the box which Frome defender Brian Sprake could only toe-poke into his own net.
Rec wrapped things up in style when Holden was on hand with an overhead effort after Moriarty’s header at a corner hit the bar.
Rec’s captain Ross Elliott said the team were enjoying their involvement in the county cup.
‘We all know that we’re not going to win the league and this is keeping our season alive,’ he said.
‘I’m well happy with the result. Especially in the first half, that was the best we’ve played all season. I’m just pleased to get through.’ Somerset Senior Cup: Assistant boss targets a run to the final after comprehensive win
Article posted on 7th December, 2009 - 2.29pm
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