Goals from Hollie Bailey, Julia Lucero and Lily Jackson secured an emphatic victory to send Vale Women to the Staffordshire FA Challenge Vase final.
Following a disappointing result to the same opposition in the same competition last season in the final, our Women’s side came out with a vengeance to rectify the wrongs.
First Team Manager Garry Pearce was in the opposing dugout that day, but since joining in October his side has developed well, establishing a solid style of play.
Ten minutes in it was clear what type of game this was going to be; both came out with intensity, allowing small margins for error.
However, a lengthy stoppage at the quarter-hour mark halted the quick start after a serious injury to the opposition, with the game not resuming until 13 minutes later.
Chances began to arrive for the Valiants after play resumed, with Abi Adams coming closest after an opening brought her face-to-face with the Stoke goalkeeper, but her attempt was well met.
With less than 10 minutes of the original 45 minutes remaining, Vale took the lead. Adams was involved in the attack again, this time laying off to Hollie Bailey on the centre of the edge of the box - her first time strike was out of reach and into the top corner to give Vale the lead.
From that goal, the game exploded back into life after the lively start. Stoke were awarded a penalty two minutes after we opened the scoring when Jess Smith took down their attacker, but the penalty was well saved by Ellie Taylor to her bottom right. The Vale goalkeeper was outstanding throughout the game, with her stops proving decisive by the end.
Despite the penalty save, the hosts found a breakthrough minutes later, scrambling home from a set-piece. Fifteen minutes were still to be added however, providing opportunity to find a way back ahead.
On the brink of the whistle, we did exactly that. A superb ball from a Jess Smith free-kick reached captain Sian McHugh, who saw her deft flick denied, but the rebound fell to American striker Julia Lucero, who smashed home from a few yards out to provide us with an advantage at the interval.
It was a fiery beginning to the second half, and following a string of contentious refereeing decisions, Adams was sin-binned for ten minutes for dissent before Lucero was booked for a late challenge. It was a crucial juncture in the semi-final, as Vale had to battle with one player less while the opposition were pressing for an equaliser.
Shortly after Adams’ reintroduction, Lucero was subbed for Lily Jackson, who added legs up front. Minutes after coming on, Jackson earned a penalty after her shirt was pulled inside the box. Jackson stood up and scored emphatically into the right side-netting, providing a much needed buffer for Vale.
From then on in, it was a managed, compact performance, as the home side were reduced to few chances after great battling from the Valiants. An opportunity fell to Stoke with less than ten minutes on the clock, with their attacker clean through on goal, but Taylor superbly pounced on the ball to prevent what would have been a clear goal.
The opposition looped home a second with only two minutes remaining, but the Valiants had done enough to reach the final.
Speaking after the game, Garry Pearce said: “It’s a great win for the club, it was a proper semi-final, a proper local derby. From the moment we arrived the girls were so excited and determined to put right the wrongs of last year.”
We will play the final against Leek Town on Wednesday 15th April at Newcastle Town FC.