Vale Manager Josh Gallagher started in a back 4 (Archie Harland-Goddard, Nathan Lewis, Cam Black and a Step 4 starting debut for Aaron Moody) with midfielders Jake Gallagher, Seanen McKillop and Dan Hector and Jermaine Greene, Jordy Gallagher and Olly Sotoyinbo up front. Billy Bishop between the sticks. Badshot had a lot of new faces, with only a handful of players recognisable from the team which has given the Vale so much trouble over the last 2 seasons (4 straight losses for the Vale vs Badshot Lea).

The game started a bit choppy, not a surprise given the occasion and the steady rain. The Vale had a decent chance on 4’ when new man Sotoyimbo beautifully nodded a Bishop clearing kick into the path of Jordy Gallagher and only a last ditch block by a Badshot defender prevented the Vale from scoring early.

Some typical Jermaine Greene persistence down the right side eventually developed into a move involving Sotoyimbo and he put an enticing cross into the box on 9’ which caused some chaos in the Badshot goal box.

It wasn’t one way traffic, as Badshot was stringing passes together and on 12’ left winger Traore got to the byline and Bishop had to react quickly to cut out a dangerous cross.

On 19’ Harland-Goddard intercepted at midfield, dribbled past assorted Badshot midfielders and set up Sotoyimbo in the area…unfortunately Olly had strayed offside. But the new target man was looking menacing and one felt his time was coming.

On 25’ Vale had a warning when, again down the left with Traore, Badshot got in a very well placed cross which was deflected only just wide of Bishop’s post. And just 2 minutes later Badshot was in front when the Vale failed to bring it out from a goal kick, got caught back footed and a couple of good passes from Traore and Badshot captain Ceesay allowed Ceesay to turn and stroke it into the right side of Bishop’s net.

It could have gotten worse 2 minutes later with Traore again proving a handful but blazing over from the left side of the box.

Instead, the Vale got the ball up the pitch and some good interchange between Hector and McKillop resulted in Hector threading a pass to Sotoyimbo, who whistled it left footed past Cawdron into the Badshot net from 16 yards out. Level at 33’.

The Vale failed to really consolidate after levelling, but did create an opening on 42’ when a Greene cross was only partially cleared and Dan Hector zipped in a shot which Cawdron did very well to palm wide.

On 43’ the Vale went ahead. A bit of broken play in the centre and Jake Gallagher found himself loping forward from his holding spot…a lovely little dink over the top from Sotoyimbo and Gallagher was, shockingly, in on goal. A good finish was still required it but Gallagher was able to knock it into the corner nicely left footed on the half volley. 2-1 to the Vale.

Halftime arrived, but not before Badshot’s no 10 Payce blazed just over from 25 yards with Bishop rooted to his spot.

And thus ended a fairly even, quite scrappy first half. The rain abated and the fanzone got busier for the start of the second half…and they were in for a treat.

On 49’ Badshot was unlucky not to draw level when the slippery pitch got the better of Harland-Goddard allowing a cross to find Badshot’s Payne who shot directly at Bishop. 4 minutes later Sotoyimbo had the ball in the net on the rebound of a long Jordy Gallagher shot but was adjudged offside. If anything Badshot was having better possession and Bishop was called on to come off his line smartly on 53’ with Ceesay nearly clean through.

On 64’ after a couple minutes of good pressure, the Vale broke through. Jordy Gallagher dribbled along Badshot’s 18 yard line and dropped it off to Greene on the right, who cut in and zipped a low left-footed shot into the near corner of the net. 3-1 to the Vale. Now the sun was out and things were going to get even better.

Tom Barnes, who had come on a few minutes earlier, outworked the Badshot left back, got to the byline and put in an inviting low cross which Jordy Gallagher easily poked home. 4-1.

Manager Gallagher replaced the midfield, with Brad Wilson, Dan Moody and James Dickson coming on to offer fresh legs and conserve energy ahead of Monday’s big battle with Kingstonian.

Badshot never gave up, and it would be untrue to say the Vale dominated….it was a back and forth affair. But Vale defenders Black, Harland-Goddard and Lewis were solid the whole game and Badshot did not take what chances they had.

On 78’ it got worse for Badshot. Barnes, who was proving a muscular menace, shook off a Badshot defender just beyond midfield and hit a 35 yard, perfect lefty through ball for Jordy Gallagher, who jinked right and left before slotting it in to make it 5-1.

With Badshot pressing, futher chances followed for the Vale but went begging. The Vale defence, continued to stand firm, with newcomer Dan Howick replacing Harland-Goddard and proving just as difficult for Badshot to deal with.

It started in the rain and ended in the sun with the Badshot Lea bogeyman firmly vanquished.