STOCKPORT GEORGIANS...3

ELTON VALE...0

ELTON started the second half of the season in the same fashion they started the first -- with a heavy defeat, this time against a team they had beaten just three weeks previously.

Missing key players led to a lack of physical presence and Vale fell apart after the break. They couldn't have had any complaints about the outcome, apart from the third goal which had a strong suspicion of offside about it.

There was little to whet the appetite in the opening exchanges as both teams struggled on the sticky surface, but Elton's Steve Crossley was the first of the two 'keepers to see some action, blocking James Bowden's shot at close quarters. Bowden was living up to his nickname of "whippet", with some strong runs at the Elton defence and it took two excellent last ditch tackles from the Doran brothers, Anthony and Steve, to save the day.

Just as Elton began to look comfortable they gave away a ridiculously soft goal in the 28th minute from their own throw-in. The ball was lost deep in their own half and when it sat up kindly for Georgians' striker, Scott Walsh, he pinged a cracking 25-yard dipping volley, which didn't give Crossley a chance. Andy Sensale almost grabbed an equaliser five minutes later when he lobbed advancing 'keeper Peter Mellor, but a back-tracking defender cleared off the line.

As the pitch became stickier in the second half, Stockport grew stronger and Bowden put them two up in the 65 minute, when he just got the better of a sprint with Anthony Doran before rifling in a low shot which Crossley got a hand to, but couldn't prevent the ball rolling into the net. Substitute, Andy Moss, added a third eight minutes later but looked to be beyond the last Vale defender when he volleyed home from the six-yard line.

Elton kept plugging away and in the last five minutes, Steve Howson and Andy Sensale both brought fine saves from Mellow, who turned their well struck low drives away for corners to preserve his clean sheet and leave Elton with a miserable journey home.

TEAM: Crossley, Hannon, Burke, A. Doran, I. Hutchinson, Hopkins, Howson, S. Doran, Read, Sensale, Smith. Subs: Jones, J. Noble, T. Noble.

A missed penalty proved costly for the reserves as they bowed out of the Open Trophy following a 2-1 home defeat by Irlam MS Reserves. Martin Rayner scored Elton's goal.

Vale are at home to Leigh Athletic tomorrow and the reserves are away to East Manchester. Both kick-off at 2pm.