VALE battled bravely before just coming out second best in an eight-goal thriller in the Referees' Cup final at Marlow on Tuesday night.
In an excellent and exciting final, Crendon had a great start when they stormed into a two-goal lead.

Ryan Scott produced some fancy footwork before slotting home after Vale keeper Gary Bidgway had earlier parried an earlier powerful shot.

They made it two in the 23rd minute with an excellent effort from Joe Russell. But Vale showed their 'never-say-die' attitude and within two minutes, prolific scorer Luca Forchione reduced the deficit after some good Vale inter-play.

With another attack, a battle for possession and a series of challenges saw Forchione emerge with a long-range lob that fell into the top right-hand corner to bring the scores level at the interval. Crendon started the second half well to allow Scott to find space well in the penalty area and turn the ball back into the net for their third goal. Midway through the second half, Vale engineered another break through the middle of the park.

Spreading the ball left to Nathan Scarfe, he laid it off to Pat Hurst.
Hurst slipped the ball forward and Hawes, coming through the centre, finished cleanly to level the scores once again.

Vale keeper Bidgway then made a good save as Crendon turned up the heat, but they were not to be denied for long as an unfortunate Vale error forced an own goal.

Vale fought back, but they were unlucky when a Hawes header hit the post. Although all the Vale boys had been brave in defeat, Scott rounded off the scoring in stoppage time to firmly give Crendon the trophy.