First Football post of this new season

Wahey Guys and girls it's 20:45 8/8/09 as I am sat here writing this, pokemon platinums annoying battle music in my ear but still this isn't about pokemon, it's about one of my other hobbies:Football.

Now I call it a hobby but football (or soccer if you wish) is not just a sport but a way of life, it dictates the air you breath, your diet, how you waste hours of your life, but I'd hate life without it. As a life long Port Vale fan I attend their opening fixture agaisnt Rochdale, a team I have true respect for. We are considered a big club in league 2, no really we are. And with Rochdale in the league it's easy to see why. Low attendances, low budget but their fantastic manager has brought high expectations to this little club.

The game itself was centred around how the new manager at Vale and his new players would bed in. Starting of in an alien 3-4-3 formation, a huge risk, we had a lot of possesion but created few clear cut chances, the best of which fell to former Stoke City Center Back 'Big Gaz' Owen. Rochdale were harried by us everytime we got the ball and didn't make many chances, foward Chris Dagnall spurring their best chance of the half.

The second half was a more lively affair with Rochdale taking the lead through young winger Joe Thompson, who smartly headed home following a good cross from the Vale right by Will Buckley. Fault for the goal must lie with debutant Kris Taylor for giving his man a free header. A huge blemish on an otherwise good debut.

Vale responded by taking of midfield enforcer Antony Griffith, Right Back Sam Stockley and veteran striker, debutant Geoff Horsefield. On came the young trio of captin Tommy Fraser, hot youth prospect James Lawrie and Louis Dodds, a young goalscoring midfielder. The changes paid off. Following a cross the ball fell to Tommy Fraser, who played the ball wide to Louis Dodds who played to ball to the right touchline where defender Lee Colins picked it up, took on one man and crossed the ball, only for it to hit a Rochdale hand in the area. The resulting penalty was calmly put away by vice-captin and last seasons top scorer Marc Richards. As they game went on only Vale looked like scoring, with a new solidarity in defence and a hard work ethic. If Mr Adams can keep this up he may just get another promotion ,and proberley his biggest achievement to date, due to the restrictions he has.

Elsewhere in football heavy losses for both Bradford and Nowich, who lost 5-0 and 7-1 respectivley. Former Val Frontman Kyle Perry hit two on his debut for Mansfield and Sheffield United snatched a goaless draw with Middlseborough.

Ending on a sad note Sir Bobby Robson passed away on July 31st, his memmory celebrated with a minutes applause at games nationwide today. I would like you to join me in extending our condolences to his wife and family, R.I.P Bobby Robson

Next Saterday means more football blogs,

Matt