LA Vale: 6 - Deportivo Oaxaca: 3
LA Vale's final game of the season fell on a beautiful day in mid November in LA. It's hard to believe that this whole season started eight months ago in Des Moines, Iowa and now it was coming to a close.
The Vale had yet to taste defeat in the Super Metro League and, in the sunshine beating down on Griffith Park, they were determined that it was going to stay that way.
Coach Dean opted for a slightly different formation with a 3-4-3 as the aim of the day was for goals,goals, goals. Vale had a strong squad with Shaun Saunders, Cory and Boyley playing as the back three. Matty Hoffman, Alex Defilipe, Chaplin Early and Simon Toselli played in the midfield and spearheading the attack were Dean Jacobs, Oliver Trevena, and Nick Emmerson.
After a good warm-up, and final team talk of the season, the team set on the field in what could possibly have been the best team spirit of the year. The past four weeks has seen LA Vale bond stronger than ever and it truly is a team of quality people and quality players. With a fighting message from Chairman Williams sent via cellular technology, Vale were pumped and weren't going to let anything stop them taking home a victory!
The team started strongly and dominated possesion from the outset - tough tackles and enthusiasm were flying around the Vale squad. Five minutes in and Saunders put a long ball down the middle of the field and Oli chased as the keeper made a hash of his effort and the ball skidded under the flaying keeper for the opening goal.
Several close efforts later followed from the attacking three before Dean broke the off-side trap down the right, cut in towards the goal and squared the ball for what was Nick's easiest tap in of the season. Both players ran off and celebrated in true Vale fashion!
Half Time - LA Vale: 2, Deportivo Oaxaca: 0
The team talk at half-time was just about relaxing and having fun. The team took to the field and within five minutes of the restart they made it 3 - 0. Nick, gaining his second goal of the game after some clever work down the right, saw Dean's pin point cross meet Emmerson's diving header, classic English football.
Almost immediately afterwards an argument erupted between the referee and Saunders and the player was given his marching orders with a straight red. Vale down to 10 men!
A little panic set in... a break away and a goal found La Vale at 3 - 1. Not to be deterred by their stance of goals galore, Vale still attacked and another mazey run this time from the left saw Dean beat four players before the keeper pulled off a fine save... the saved shot fell to Nick who sent it goalward bound... a massive headed deflection saw a Deportivo player send it in his own net. 4 - 1 to the Vale!
Tired legs started to settle in the last 30 minutes. Another break away and a failed offside trap saw Vale at 4 - 2. The same again, 10 minutes later, and there was just one goal in it, Vale were just 4 -3 up.
Panic at the disco... (or football field)! Vale needed this victory. They wanted this one. Each player dipped into their energy reserves and brought everything they had for the final 10 minutes of this game. Jacobs picked up the ball from a wide spread pass from Chappers in the middle and Dean rounded a defender and squared the ball back for Hoffman to fire home and extend the lead to 5 - 3... Panic over!
With just a minute remaining a long throw sent Deano down the right and, seeing the keeper out of his line, he sent a lobbed ball over his head and into the back of the net. The whistle blew shortly after and LA Vale were victorious, as promised, by 6 goals to 3.
To top it all off, the players enjoyed a celebratory picnic with the fans after the game for a few hours in the beautiful sunshine. A lovely way to end a lovely season.
Words by Jamie Donovan
