GoCrea8 Premiership

Taunton Vale 4 Cardiff University 2

A STORMING second half display fired Taunton Vale to a 4-2 victory over Cardiff University in their final home game of the season.

Goals from Ian Haley (2), Julian Yates and a deflected short corner sealed a deserved victory for Vale, who head into the final game of the season at basement side City of Bath knowing a win could see them secure a top six finish.

With vocal home support, Vale played with confidence and pace from the first whistle.

Early entries into both teams’ attacking circles pleased the crowds, however neither were able to convert their opportunities.

Ian Haley thought he had made the breakthrough, unpicking the Cardiff lines and walking around the goalkeeper only to miss the target. However, he soon made amends, pouncing on an opportunity to slot a back-hand shot through the legs of the Cardiff keeper.

Vale therefore went into half-time with a slender 1-0 advantage, but Cardiff responded well at the start of the second half and equalised with some slick passes along the base line while the Vale defence were napping.

Vale regained their form and dominated the latter second half.

With large spells of pressure, Vale converted a well worked deflected short corner - and in quick succession, Julian Yates added an open play deflection to give Vale a 3-1 lead.

Cardiff snatched one back, but Haley once again showed his class by giving the home side a well-earned fourth goal.

Teign 2 Taunton Vale II 1

TAUNTON Vale missed the opportunity to secure promotion when they were beaten 2-1 at Teign from Dawlish on Saturday.

Neither side had many chances on target in the first half, but Teign did have a run of short corners which they could not convert.

In the second half, Teign scored a scrappy goal from two metres out, but Vale got one back when David Gibson scored from a penalty short corner, as he flicked the ball quickly against the back board.

Teign showed more hunger to win the game and after a break through the Vale defence, they scored to make it 2-1.

Vale head into the last game of the season, home to Shepton Mallet, still needing the one point to secure promotion.

Isca C 2 Taunton Vale B 6

THE Men’s third eleven are now one game away from finishing as champions for the second year running after a 6-2 win at Isca.

Colin Jewhurst (2), Ben Luxton, Jonty Lawford (2) and Liam Elliott were on target for Vale in a comprehensive win.

Vale struggled early on and were indebted to a mistake from the Isca keeper, who miss-kicked to Richard Stock, who unselfishly passed to Colin Jewhurst to tap in the opener.

Isca equalised almost immediately, before Ben Luxton grabbed his 14th of the season with a trademark drag flick.

Jonty Lawford grabbed the third after good work down the right from Calvin Bull and Colin Jewhurst picked up his 19th of the season.

Liam Elliott then tapped in for the fifth just before half time.

Late on, Jonty Lawford picked up his second of the game as Vale cruised to their eighth away win of the season.

Vale face bottom placed PGSOB B on Saturday at Gypsy Lane needing to win to be crowned champions.

Taunton Vale C 4 ECV Hornets B 1

A LITTLE sheepish from their defeat at the hands of ISCA the previous week, Taunton Vale 4s were re-energised for the final home game of the season against ECV Hornets 3s.

Continued pressure and tenacity from Vale meant that Chris Morling was able to sneak through and score the first goal.

In the second half it was the energy and skill of Rich Stock with a superb hat-trick that finished ECV hopes.