Luckless Vale let it slip

Monton Amateurs...1 Elton Vale...1

TWO points lost rather than one gained was the verdict from the Elton camp after second from bottom Monton just held out against some strong pressure.

Vale couldn't quite grab the vital winning goal as they came up against Lady Luck with her awkward head on, a stubborn defence and a goalkeeper in top form in Monton's Phil Ellis.

The Granary Lane pitch at Worsley was a little on the heavy side in places, but the Fold were still able to string some impressive moves together as the midfield trio of Stefan Shaw, John Price and Paul Owen moved both themselves and the ball about well.

Dave Malius, who now looks to have recaptured his early season form after a recent blip, was a constant threat down Vale's right flank and one of his crosses almost provided the opening goal, but Ellis pulled off a smart save to hold Derek Watson's header.

Watson, the division's leading scorer, had a somewhat subdued game after his recent exploits, but this Elton side certainly isn't a one-man team and there were plenty of others willing to take on the scoring responsibility.

Even the Vale defenders had the confidence to try

their luck from distance, Mark Slater's shot from 35 yards being plucked from the air just under the angle of bar and post and the 'keeper then showed a safe pair of hands again as he held a blistering free-kick from Steve Dearden.

The home side only threatened the Elton goal in sporadic raids, but one such break saw them come close to taking the lead when Graham Bragg's low drive looked destined for the net until Anthony Doran's outstretched leg diverted it round the post.

But Vale hit back and deservedly took the lead in the 37th minute when a move started by Malius on one wing saw the

ball cleverly worked across the penalty area where it reached Damian Keegan who squeezed it into the net from a tight angle despite the attempts of a defender to clear it off the line.

Elton weren't allowed to build on that lead though as Monton equalised in the 49th minute when Steve Kennedy rifled the ball home from 20 yards after Vale had wasted three opportunities to clear it.

If the home side thought the balance of power was about to shift they were to be disappointed as the visitors increased their pressure and created a string of chances.

Dave Wilkes, on a rare overlap, drove the ball over the bar from eight yards and Steve Smith was very unlucky to see his smart turn and shot beat Ellis, but not the bar as it rebounded off the woodwork.

Andy Sensale came off the bench for his first team debut and almost made it a dream one when put clear only for Ellis to once more come to his team's rescue with a good block at close range to deny the youngster.

Elton forced several corners in the later stages and these, together with long throw-ins from Wilkes, meant there was plenty of action in the Monton goalmouth and twice the ball was hacked off the line and twice Ellis made good reflex saves to keep the ball out.

Luck just wasn't with Vale on this occasion and although a point away from home is quite often acceptable it was particularly tough on the Elton players that they didn't collect all three.

ELTON VALE: Crossley 7, Slater 7, Doran 7, Dearden 7, Shaw 7, Price 7, Malius 8, Owen 7, Keegan 6, Watson 6, Smith 6 Substitutes: Wilkes (for Slater, 63 mins) 7,

Armstrong (for Shaw, 63 mins) 6, Sensale (for Keegan, 77 mins).

The reserves lost 2-0 at home to Monton's second string.

It's the eagerly awaited Gilgryst Cup semi-final tomorrow as Vale make the short journey to Sandgate Road to face neighbours Prestwich Heys and a bumper crowd is anticipated for what promises to be a tasty local 'derby'.

Kick-off time is 2pm and the tie has to be settled on the day with extra time and penalties if necessary. Elton's reserves are without a fixture.