LA Vale: 7 - Matador: 2
LA Vale: 7 (Jacobs 2, Modersohn 2, Wilkes 3), TP United: 2
Arguably the biggest crowd for an early evening KO assembled for what was billed bu the league as the game of the week - were Vale a flash in the pan or the real deal ?
Player/coach Dean Jacobs sought to answer the question two minutes in from the edge of the 6 yards box with an absolute screamer - their goalie had no chance. A little fuss at the back was calmed by player/chairman RW who calmed big Nick Emmerson and Rich Jenik keeping the defensive line solid early doors.
Composure restored, the phenomenal Seth Modersohn burst into space down the right, getting his head onto the ball just inside the box and the Vale were 2-0 up and only 11 minutes on the clock. Jonny Wilkes and Dean had looked a formidable strike partnership and, after a series of highly dubious offside calls from the man in black, Jonny Wilkes burst the onion bag from the edge of the box to the delight of the assembled LA Vale bench and coached 3-0... thanks very much!
Keeping possession and seeing out the half, Oli Trevena and Fred Serra rotated down the right mid, Oli just recovering from an ankle injury picked up recently and Fred having finally shaken off the effects of a nasty bout of flu. Chris Edgar made a cameo in the first half having completed financial planning exams in San Bernardino county and dashing back along the I-10 for the game - such is the commitment of these lads.
Nervousness prevailed during the first 10minutes of the second half though as LA Vale went a bit wobbly and the wheels came off. Matador's number 33 - always a threat with some beautiful close ball skills, beat the unsighted Rocco between the sticks and moments later an iffy tackle, and perhaps the lack of Robbie's organization, gave away a free kick: edge of the box and well struck - Matador had clawed thier way back to 3-2.
Nail-biting stuff for a few minutes, but Jeremy Seney got tight on him and marked the number 33 out of the game for 10 minutes. Whatever bluster Matador could muster, and whatever heart they'd gained from their two goals, dissolved when Seth got on the end of a ball just outside the 18 and hammered it into the back of the net. Sighs of relief all round: 4-2. A corner barely five minutes later produced Vale's 5th (and Johnny Wilke's 2nd) - clinical finishing from the far post. Jonny Wilkes completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later, getting onto Dean's cross and beating the 'keeper with aplomb.
Dean had another opportunity moments later, but volleys are always tough and the ball went over, not to worry though Dean, got his second with a few moments to go to complete the victory 7-2. Robbie's lads, generous in victory, congratulated the vanquished. Standout performances were all over the place tonight - Glen Burton kept it composed at the back left and Gabe Folick brought flair and pace dropping back from the middle.
The man of the match goes to Chaplin Early who playing our of the middle screened the back line forcefully, and played key balls to release both Seth and the strike pair of Jonny and Dean.
Moments of flash indeed, but certainly the real deal.
Words by Jamie Donovan
