[Eddie]

Vale finish on a high note after a sleep-inducing first half.

Foyle resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes. He went with Anyon, Weston, Walsh, McGregor, Pilkington, Harsley, Hulbert, Whitaker, Constantine, Sodje and Rodgers. On the bench were Musselwhite, Miles, Fortune, Kamara and Glover (Danny, son of Dean). Vale were seeking a double after the 4-0 victory at their place in December, aiming to continue an excellent run against the Cherries at Vale Park. Vale were also trying to finish above Crewe and also in the top half.

The visitors were first to show when Gowling shot wide on 5 minutes.

On 9 minutes Vale created anxiety in the Bournemouth defence when Whitaker hit the ball over the bar with the keeper nowhere to be seen after good work by Sodje and Rodgers.

On 17 minutes Sodje surged into the area but poor control allowed keeper Stewart to clear.

On 26 minutes Hollands hit the ball over the Vale bar.

On 32 minutes Hulbert did the first of two of his trademark heavy tackles, this time on Hayter, being fortunate to avoid a booking on both occasions.

After 40 minutes of near-inactivity the game suddenly sprung to life for the final five minutes of the half.

On 40 minutes McGregor shot tamely wide when set up by Sodje.

On 42 minutes Hayter shot just wide of the far post and then Fletcher's shot was blocked by Anyon at close range.

On 45 minutes Rodgers fed Whitaker and he should have done better than hit the ball wide of the far post, past the onrushing Rodgers.

With literally the last action of the half Browning's cross from the left was headed down to Anderton whose powerful shot was parried by Anyon with the half-time whistle following one second later.

Fortune replaced Walsh for the second half as Walsh had taken a couple of knocks during the first half.

On 50 minutes Vale took the lead. Gowling failed to clear a free-kick and the ball fell to the unmarked Sodje who hooked the ball spectacularly over the keeper.

The goal enlivened the Vale and on 54 minutes Weston shot weakly at the keeper.

On 55 minutes the ever-lively Rodgers raced down the left and hit a powerful shot at the keeper, who pushed the effort wide for a corner to the Vale.

On 56 minutes Vale again came close. Rodgers crossed from the left to Constantine but Gowling just managed to clear before Constantine managed to score.

On 58 minutes Rodgers increased the Vale's lead. He raced into the area and just as I thought he was going to be brought down for a probable penalty he unleashed a great shot which flew into the corner past the keeper's left hand. There was a huge reaction from the Vale fans, who knew they had seen a terrific goal by an in-form striker.

On 61 minutes Vale should have gone three goals ahead. Rodgers fed Constantine but he missed his shot from close range.

On 62 minutes the roles were reversed when Constantine put Rodgers in with an astute pass into the area, only for the on-fire Rodgers to hit the ball over the bar.

On 65 minutes Hollands headed the ball onto the roof of the Vale net with Anyon out of position.

On 70 minutes Fortune went on a long run out of defence to the edge of the Bournemouth penalty area. His shot was blocked but fell to Rodgers whose shot hit Gowling.

On 77 minutes sub Pitman had an effort saved by Anyon but on 80 minutes the visitors got back into the game with a characteristically messy goal of the sort Vale have conceded too often in recent times. Hayter's effort was blocked by Anyon and the ball fell to Summerfield, whose first effort was stopped by Fortune but he picked it up again before shooting into the net.

On 83 minutes Summerfield came close again from 30 yards and on 85 minutes Pitman brought a save out of Anyon.

Neither side came close in the final few minutes.

Vale had 52% of the possession, 6 on-target efforts to their 7, 6 off-target to their 9 and 3 corners to their 4. Only Bournemouth's Hollands was booked, for dissent. Ref Deadman was irritatingly whistle-happy in the first half but seemed to lay off in the second half. Foyle described him as one of the better referees, citing as evidence for this opinion Deadman giving the players permission to take on drinks in the warm weather every time there was an injury stoppage. The attendance was 5080, including 315 from Bournemouth. The Bycars End was better-filled than usual in view of the £10 admission charge with a link also to the new season tickets . The average attendance is actually slightly higher this season than last despite the lack of special offers being made for individual matches.

This was ultimately a fine and deserved victory for Vale despite a fairly tame first half which looked every bit an end-of-season affair. Cherries boss Kevin Bond felt his side deserved something from the game but I don't agree with him, even though some of the stats suggest a very close game. Vale were much the livelier side in the second half after an even first half and in the dynamic Rodgers Vale had the best striker on show. Anyon did well when required to do so, as did his back four. Midfield still lacks creativity but that will doubtless be addressed in the near future.Harsley and Hulbert do not make a good pairing in the centre where at least one player needs to have some ability to pass the ball around a bit. I don't really think this 4-3-3 formation looks right but it has been successful against Crewe and Bournemouth in the final two home games. I think the 4-3-3 formation is OK if one of the front three is a genuine winger with pace but Vale are simply using three strikers there.

A section of Vale fans were predictably stupid and disgraceful in their treatment of the departing Leon Constantine. I think Leon has exaggerated the booing he has received but his piece in The Sentinel this week probably made the reaction of some boneheads more likely. Those booing seemed largely confined to a group of airheads who have no perception of the contribution made by Leon since he joined us. They have swallowed the "lazy Leon" line. Next season they will doubtless greet with enthusiasm some donkey who runs about aimlessly for 90 minutes and ends up with eight goals for the season. Every time they booed, a group of us chanted his name and he waved to a lot of people in the Railway Paddock who also applauded him. Rarely can a player have so divided fans at Vale Park but what makes this case unusual is that the player concerned has scored 26 goals.Leon, like Jimmy Greaves and other great strikers before him, conserves his energy and comes alive when a chance is there but has also helped out in defence on many occasions. I don't actually believe that he is leaving because of lack of appreciation - the prospect of better wages elsewhere is a greater motivation - but the attitude of some of the younger element of our fans will not have helped. I wish him well.

Foyle hinted before the game that he might give Musselwhite a run-out and had Bournemouth not scored when they did I'm sure this would have happened but at least Mussie was accorded a fine ovation at half-time when he took part ina penalty shoot-out.

Vale have finished 12th, above Crewe and guaranteed that seeding for next season's Carling Cup, not that this has mattered prior to this season when Vale happily lost to anyone however lowly their status. Vale have the same number of points as last season, winning more, losing more, drawing less, scoring and conceding more than last time. Things could have been better but after the defeat at Chesterfield in February I feared that relegation was on the cards. The league higlights have been the wins at Bournemouth and Rotherham by 4-0 and 5-1 and the recent home wins over Oldham, Yeovil and Crewe. The FA Cup did not have a highlight but the Carling Cup included wins over three Championship side and the magical moment of going in front at White Hart Lane which will live long in the memory, as will some of the awful Spurs stewards and the slow journey back, late at night. The low points have been the abysmal showings at Hereford and Chesterfield and the last-gasp penalty defeat at Crewe.

Soon we will find out the contents of the retained list. I suspect Weston my be a casualty as Vale have been looking at right-backs and I don't expect Lowndes, Husbands and Gardner to be at Vale Park next season. Praise for Sonner by Foyle after the Bournemouth game suggests he may be offered another year. I think Kamara will also go as Vale have signed a right-winger. Assuming Goodlad recovers from injury we do not need any more keepers. I would be happy with McGregor, Walsh and Pilkington and would also try to sign Fortune. Walker and Miles are not good enough but we are stuck with them as they are still under contract but I wish they could be farmed out somehow. Talbot may be good enough but has missed lots of games through suspension and injury, including the final seven of this season. The signings of Richards from Barnsley and Tudor from Leyton Orient seem to be done deals and I am pleased with them. Richards is a different sort of striker from Constantine but should do well. Tudor played really well against us when Leyton had the better of things for the the first half at Vale on day one of this season and was brilliant in the game at Brisbane Road when Talbot was sent off and Orient won. I still feel another striker will be needed unless Foyle feels Danny Glover can progress rapidly. I would like pace down the left wing and two more creative players in midfield, though we might have to settle for one if Sonner stays. There will be the usual decisions to be made about youngsters who have not yet made the first team : I would not like to be the person making such decisions.

By the way, Kevin Bond managed Bournemouth at Vale Park yesterday, as did his father John many years ago. I wonder how often that has happened in the past - father and son managing teams at Vale Park? I don't know if Alan Ball and his Dad (both managers) ever did this - probably not. Darren Ferguson may follow his father in this if we draw his team Peterborough in a cup competition next season.

This week I have attended three funerals. On Wednesday I attended the funeral of former Vale keeper Ray Hancock, whom older fans will remember as the older brother of fine Vale keeper Ken Hancock. There were some Vale greats from the past, including Terry Miles, Harry Poole, Ken Griffiths, Colin Tartt, and Ray Williams. These men played thousands of games for Vale covering the 1950s onwards and some of them are still Vale Park regulars but now in the supporting sense.

The new scoreboard was supposed to be on show yesterday but the two-week delay means we will not have sight of it until next season. It is good to see the Lorne Street progressing though it will never afford a quality view other than at the higher levels. It will, however, be more aesthetically pleasing than the building site we have had to endure for several years. I noticed that glass (panels, not broken bottles) had appeared on the middle floor yesterday. I look forward to the seats being put in, though I know we don't actually need them at present. The extension to the gym is also welcome. There is progress being made.

I can't believe the season is over. It seems but five minutes since I was saying last August "Oh, God, another season of travelling all over the country". The journey has taken in the likes of Carlisle, Yeovil, Swansea, Bournemouth, Brighton, Gillingham and next time will take in such World Heritage sites as Southend and Luton as well as encountering primitive behaviour at Elland Road. I won't enjoy the journeys next time, as I never do, but I suppose I'll be there in the hope of seeing Vale fight their way back into the Championship. See you in August.

Eddie

[TheSage]

Thanks for your intelligent and common sense reports throughout the season, Eddie. It's nice to read some unbiased views and sensible comments.

John Bond (and his wife) were in attendance yesterday. I wonder how someone like him who was brought up on the West Ham passing game looked upon the first 45 minutes, which was dreadful?

It will be interesting to see who Foyle lets go and who he tries to sign.

A better run since February has saved his job, I'm sure, but I can't say that I'm especially pleased. I still remain to be convinced of his ability to get the best out of players.

Trips to Southend and Luton are not enticing, but Forest and Blackpool can't both go up and there is a possibility of Shrewsbury or Lincoln coming up (two pleasant away days).

Season's do come and go very quickly (I think it's our age!) but I'm sure come August we'll all be in optimistic voice. Let's hope for a bit of good news regarding signings. The Club really needs to try very hard to make progress next season rather than going through the motions and accepting mid table mediocrity (as Foyle forever points out).

The few regulars on here, I am sure, have valued and enjoyed reading your reports. Thanks again! ;)

[kirsty]

Eddie, many thanks for your reports once again throughout this season. They're the only report I am sure to read as they are by far, the best! They are great, thanks. It's not just the report on the games that I enjoy, but the stuff afterwards that often talks about the week's happenings at Vale. I wish you'd get involved on the MB more!

The quoted paragraph below sums up the whole Constantine situation perfectly, IMO. I was frustrated with Constantine at Crewe away this season and felt that he could have tried much harder than he did. Other than that, I think he's been a good player for Vale. There's no way we'll manage to bring in another striker who will score as many goals, even if they do work much harder. I love Sodje and think that he's come on a lot in the second half of the season, but would wish to play Constantine any day of the week ahead of him. Ideally, they both play well together, but that's a different story. I don't think the boos are the cause of his depature, but I think it's sad that such an important player (lets face it, it probably would have been relegation season without him) has been booed throughout the season, even if only by a small minority. I've read people posting messages on OVF saying they haven never heard him being booed. I find this hard to believe. Maybe 'boos' aren't at the centre of this, but certainly people shouting comments at him about his supposedly 'lazy' element to his game are a regular occurance. There have also been endless comments on OVF (which either he will have read himself, or others will have told him about) where people have moaned about him. He is no doubt absolutly aware that there is a minority (is it?) of supporters who don't like him.

Eddie, on May 6 2007, 12:03 PM, said:

A section of Vale fans were predictably stupid and disgraceful in their treatment of the departing Leon Constantine. I think Leon has exaggerated the booing he has received but his piece in The Sentinel this week probably made the reaction of some boneheads more likely. Those booing seemed largely confined to a group of airheads who have no perception of the contribution made by Leon since he joined us. They have swallowed the "lazy Leon" line. Next season they will doubtless greet with enthusiasm some donkey who runs about aimlessly for 90 minutes and ends up with eight goals for the season. Every time they booed, a group of us chanted his name and he waved to a lot of people in the Railway Paddock who also applauded him. Rarely can a player have so divided fans at Vale Park but what makes this case unusual is that the player concerned has scored 26 goals.Leon, like Jimmy Greaves and other great strikers before him, conserves his energy and comes alive when a chance is there but has also helped out in defence on many occasions. I don't actually believe that he is leaving because of lack of appreciation - the prospect of better wages elsewhere is a greater motivation - but the attitude of some of the younger element of our fans will not have helped. I wish him well.

[Dr_Emmett_Brown]

thanks for this seasons reports Eddie - appreciated :)

Kirsty - agree with you about Crewe away game - only time where i was disappointed with his 'effort'...

No doubt that Constantine staying @ Vale till the end of this season, has probably earnt us as much money as selling him in January would have done (through keeping us in League 1), and I was pleased to see him recognise yesterday that he appreciated the Vale fans who in turn have appreciated him over the past season...

As Foyle said on his interview, maybe one day he will contemplate coming back depending on his success elsewhere :)

This post has been edited by Big_G: 06 May 2007 - 02:02 PM

[NottinghamValiant]

It doesn't seem very long ago that I was thanking you for your excellent reports of last season.

Once again we have had a season's worth of interesting and thought proking comments. Since I go to so few away games it's also great to hear about the trials and tribulations of following Vale on their travels. I remember the drudge of the travelling, the early Saturday mornings, the horrendous stewarding, the decrepid grounds and the slow long distance trips back with no points.

It's now far easier hearing your experiences from my computer chair than suffering them at first hand, but then I envy you when you have seen a great away victory because they make it all worthwhile - don't the journeys fly by when you spend it all recounting the game's highlights!

Eddie, many thanks for your efforts. I very much appreciate them

[rock]

Eddie as others have said many thanks for your excellent reports this season. I have enjoyed reading them all. Thank You.

[MikR]

Many thanks Eddie - brilliant stuff all season, once again.

These reports, as a body of work, perfectly sum up what it is to be a Vale fan over a season and I hope they're being saved for posterity. I can see them being read in fifty years time by people marvelling at what football used to be like!

[santiago]

My mum used to work with Ray Hancock in Leek. She spoke very highly of him as a person, and didn't even know about his Vale connections until after he left (when he retired).

She only heard that he had died when I told her after the match so I presume that the family wished to keep things fairly private.