Page 7 - Raynes Park Vale vs Balham 02-04-22
P. 7

Match Report  and he was replaced with Jordan   has marked some Vale games

      Gallagher. Cousin Josh must be        recently. Some opportunities went
 RAYNES PARK VALE 4          happy to have that kind of quality   begging when a simple lay-off
      on the bench and a few minutes
                                            might have produced a fifth or a
 KNAPHILL FC 0  later the wisdom of that move was  sixth goal and, with the competi-
                                            tion for the CCL South promotion
      apparent as JG  junior played in
     CCL • Tuesday 29th March 2022 • Grand Drive, Raynes Park  Louie Downey for  his second of   slot looking tighter than the RPV

      the game and Vale’s fourth. With      chairman at the bar, Vale can only
 Better was expected from the players  the game effectively wrapped up   hope that minute goal difference
      the bench lit up the board and        stats don’t become the deciding
 A chilly Tuesday night under   Tim Obisanya and Jamie Bever-  factor. But, for all that this was a
 the lights was the perfect   idge came on with both showing   display that Vale  fans are becom-
 place for this game! Hot on the   why they have a bright future at   ing used to and that we hope Vale
 heels of some mixed performances   RPV. The second half was marred   player don’t come to expect - a
 from Vale a  healthy crowd turned   by some desperate tackles, a few   clean sheet, four goals and Raynes
 up at Grand Drive to watch the   off-the-ball shenanigans and some  Park firmly in control. In the RPV
 locals take on Knaphill who had a   loudly decried refereeing deci-  bar; after the match, it was Louie
 few mixed results under their belt   sions but, importantly, the Vale    Downey who walked away with
 including a 1-1 draw against CCL   team refused to rise to any provo-  the JEWSON man-of-the match.
 rising stars Jersey Bulls. After fal-  cation and the game passed large-  It would have been hard to im-
 tering against an excellent Colliers   ly without any of  the  displays  of    agine how much more Downey
 Wood side a week before Vale had   had the crowd gasping. Moody’s   ill-disciplined recklessness  that    could have done tonight.
 clearly been made aware by Josh    shot sailed over the bar but fif-
 Gallagher that better was expect-  teen minutes later and Reece
 ed from the players’ feet but also   Williams-Bowers turned on the
 from their mouths and heads and   after-burners, broke ahead of the
 after 90 minutes the Vale gather   retreating Knaphill defence and -
 had every reason to be pleased.   to the cries of ‘WAZZZAAAAAH’
 A bright start yielded results on   from the Vale faithful, slotted
 19 minutes when a looping Vale   low past  the visiting keeper. Vale
 corner led to a manic scramble   play-maker Nes Bellikli was hav-
 in the Knaphill 6-yard box before   ing his first real outing following
 Louie Downey put it away to put   injury and  was starting to show
 Raynes Park one up and just on   why he has rapidly become a firm
 the half-hour mark Nathan Lewis   fan favourite at Grand Drive but,
 headed in No.2 to send Vale into   just past the hour, and with Vale
 the dressing room with a healthy   in good control Josh Gallagher’s
 cushion. Into the second half   management team clearly decided
 an early attempt by Dan Moody   that Bellikli could afford a break   Click to view three of the goals
   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12