Athletics goalkeeper Tom Creed attempts in vain to stop Gareth Holden’s first-half penalty at the Corbet Field. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0845017)

Vale Rec 2, Athletics 0

PHIL CORBET’S side moved away from the bottom of the early Division One table with a deserved first win of the season at the Corbet Field last night.

Two goals within five minutes gifted to them midway through the first half settled matters and despite spirited resistance from the young visitors who came close a few times in an even second period, Vale never looked likely to surrender their hard-earned lead.

Corbet is nothing less than a realist.

He knows his new creation are not world-beaters and must improve, but saw that the result was most significant.

‘It was important for us to get three points and get our season going.

‘The first half we thoroughly deserved our lead and the second half was very even.’

Steve Ogier, his opposite number, was far from despondent and nor should he be.

‘We had a reaction from half-time and that was the pleasing thing. There was a bit of belief about us in the second half.

‘If we had scored in that early spell in the second half it might have been different.’