Vale denied promotion spot at the death (From This Is Cheshire)

Vale denied promotion spot at the death

11:32am Friday 16th May 2008

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Congleton Vale 1 - Wolstanton United 0.

Congleton Vale welcomed champions Wolstanton United to Goldenhill on Wednesday night in the knowledge two wins in their last two games would clinch runners-up spot, giving a possible opportunity of promotion to the North West Counties League.

Vale began the game in confident mood on the back of an 11-game winning run, one which the league hasn't seen for some time.

It wasn't long before the first chance of the half fell to Jake Moss, who failed to put his foot through the ball and saw his shot cleared off the line.

This was the nearest either side came in the opening quarter of an hour.

Vale were territorially on top but had little to show for it.

John Banks sent a header well past the far post as the Wolstanton defence held firm.

Vale's back line has been their strength this season.

On 26 minutes Chris Beech escaped three Wolstanton players in the left hand channel and produced a fine cross which Moss despatched with a left foot volley into the top corner, giving Vale a deserved lead.

Suddenly we seemed to have a game on our hands, with the champions pushing forward more and more searching for an equaliser but finding the Vale back line in no mood to give an inch.

Vale pressed on, not wanting to invite Wolstanton further forward, deciding to go for the jugular instead of hanging onto their slender lead.

It wasn't long before Moss was handed a further chance to put the game out of sight, only again to see his shot cleared off the line by a Wolstanton defender.

The second half retained the same pace, Craig Caddy nearly threading a low cross into the heart of the Wolstanton area, then Spruce put a header wide of the post.

The fast flow continued, and Vale keeper Michael Crompton was next into action when he spread himself well to block a Graham header.

Vale's response was some superb passing on the break, culminating in Caddy curling a shot around the post.

Wolstanton were in need of a goal to reduce the arrears, and Mark Grice tried his luck from 25 yards with an effort that went over the top.

With three minutes remaining Wolstanton were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Grice stepped up and his curler was headed into the stand by Matthew Davenport as Vale protected their lines and held on for the win.

It meant Vale now were heading to play Newcastle Town for the league runners up decider on Monday May 12.

Team: - Crompton, Spruce, Stanway, M.Davenport, J Smith, Beech, Jackson, Caddy, R. Clack, Moss, Banks. Subs: - Kitten, S Davenport, D Clack.

Match Ball Sponsor: - Solution Mortgages, Congleton.

Monday May 12 - Congleton Vale 2 - Newcastle Town 2.

Congleton Vale travelled to Ball Haye Green in Leek on Monday night for their final league game of the season against Newcastle Town, both on level points and fighting to take the Staffordshire County Premier League runners up spot.

With Newcastle on a superior goal difference, Vale knew they had to win the game outright, as a draw would be enough for Newcastle to take second spot.

This was the second time in only 4 weeks that Vale had to entertain Newcastle Town as the original fixture on the 14th April 14 at Goldenhill, was abandoned by the referee with 17 minutes remaining and Vale leading 1 - 0.

The referee said he had to abandon the match due to bad light.

The pace of the game was electric from the start, with the Newcastle keeper called into action as early as the third minute to deny Jake Moss, who had pounced onto a defensive error.

Four minutes later Chris Beech played a neat ball through to Tom Jackson, who held off a challenge, and forced the Newcastle keeper into a brave save at his feet.

The rebound spun away from the arriving Moss.

As play immediately switched to the other end, a clearance from a Vale defender was intercepted, giving Miller a great chance, but Mike Crompton made an excellent save.

Within seconds the prolific Jake Moss found himself well placed in attack for Congleton, but was taken down by a Newcastle defender 5 yards outside the box.

The resulting free-kick was drifted into the box by Caddy for Moss to flick on, and Jamie Smith headed the ball home in what looked like an excellent training ground move, only for the linesman to flag for a offside.

The deadlock was broken immediately after as the ball was pumped high into Congleton's half, where the ball fell to Miller, whose excellent individual skill carried him past two Congleton players only to check his run and curl a shot in the top right corner leaving Crompton stranded.

The second period began in positive fashion for Congleton, and the pace inevitably slowed after the opening burst.

Tensions were running high, and Smith was lucky to escape the first card of the game after showing his studs in a challenge on Miller.

Six minutes later it was Newcastle who were surging forward again, and Crompton made another full stretch save to deny Wood with a curling effort.

At the other end Jackson won a corner for Vale when he attempted to slip a shot beneath the body of the advancing Newcastle keeper.

It was from that corner that Vale equalized.

Jamie Smith latched onto a perfect ball from Craig Caddy and powered the ball into the back of the net with a fantastic header.

The game continued at a frenetic pace and Vale had many chances to put the game out of Newcastle's reach.

However the story of Congleton Vale's season has been their inability to hit the back of the net and put the game out of sight.

As the clock ticked over 90 minutes Congleton broke down the right side with substitutes Gareth Bratt and Steve Davenport linking well.

Bratt fired across goal where he found Jackson in fine form, who volleyed the ball into the top corner from 15 yards out.

The crowd went wild and spilled onto the pitch to celebrate, as surely there was going to be no time for Newcastle to score an equalizer.

However directly from the resulting kick-off Miller tried his luck as he saw the Vale keeper off his line.

He fired the ball towards the Vale goal, and everyone looked on in amazement as the ball hit the underside of the crossbar for Newcastle's equalizer.

Deflated as the Congleton players may have been at this point, they picked themselves up and could still have snatched the game in the third minute of stoppage time, but Newcastle held out for the draw they were looking for.

Vale manager Steve Davenport said after the match: "This has been a fantastic first season for us in the Premier Division and all the players who have taken part can hold their heads up high.

"It is a shame we could not get the runners up spot, but now have the belief that next season we can go further and hopefully try to be in the title race with Wolstanton United from the outset.

"A few poor results early in the season have proved vital, and with this experience and the knowledge we can more than hold our own in this league, and with a couple of additions to the squad, I am certain we can bring trophies back over the border into Congleton.

"Even if we had got runners up spot in the league, I feel the lack of local support and lack of local amenities would have prevented us from entering into the North West Counties Division 2.

"However I would like to thank everybody at the Vale Club, The Beartown Supporters trust and Solution Mortgages for their continued support throughout the season."

Team: - Crompton, Spruce, M Davenport, Stanway, Smith, Beech, R. Clack, Caddy, Riley, Moss, Jackson Subs: - S Davenport, Bratt, D. Clack, Hall.

Match Ball Sponsor: - ALPS, Auto Legal Protection Services, Congleton.

Vale have managed to secure a ground slightly closer to home for next season, and will be playing all their home matches at the home of Biddulph Victoria FC, Tunstall Road, Biddulph.

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