At the end of January the Vale won, 33-15 at Bradwall Road but on their visit to Powderhouse Lane the Cheshire side turned the tables to record their first Conference B victory of the season in a highly competitive encounter with the outcome in the balance until the final minutes.

It was a hugely disappointing and frustrating result for the Vale who were forced to endure a number of setbacks but perhaps the most difficult to come to terms with was the drama that unfolded in the closing seven minutes.

Vale were leading 25-22 after Oli Cowey, who had played for the first team earlier in the afternoon, came on as a replacement to score a try which Charlie Lomas converted from wide out.

Unfortunately immediately after this score everything began to go pear shaped for the Vale when Jordan Fern was shown a yellow card. Suddenly the initiative and a possible life-line, was handed on a plate to Sandbach and they grabbed it with both hands. Their tigerish lock forward, who had caused the Vale problems throughout, tore through Vale's ranks for a converted try to ensure the winning points went back down the M6.

Sandbach were first out of the blocks and made all the early running on the Crem Pitch and as the penalty count began to mount alarmingly against the Vale they struggled to break out, but eventually their resistance was rewarded and they were able to navigate into calmer waters.

The early exchanges suggested that Sandbach were a much stronger outfit than the Vale had encountered in the previous meeting, with a pair of talented half backs, a powerful centre and of course a lock forward in imperious form, who caused mayhem whenever he had ball in hand.

In the twenty sixth minute a series of missed Vale tackles resulted in Sandbach's right winger touching down for a converted try. Vale's resolve and ambition was not diminished by this set back. They drove forward with confidence, there was a level of creativity in their play, and Sandbach were compressed in their own half for lengthy spells. Their efforts were rewarded with a Charlie Lomas penalty goal just before half time.

Three minutes into the second half Senor Sam Hoare broke away for an unconverted try but a minute later the flanker was shown a yellow card and from the resultant penalty Sandbach edged back into the lead.

With Sam Hoare still warming the naughty step Sandbach increased their lead with a try from their rampaging lock in the fifty first minute. Charlie Lomas kicked a penalty shortly after as the Vale regrouped but Sandbach widened the gap with a converted try after a lightning break from their number nine which ended with a supporting wing forward crossing the line on the hour mark.

Same Hoare underlined his potential with a second try converted by Charlie Lomas in the sixty seventh minute, followed six minutes later by what many thought was the winning score conjured up by Oli Cowey and Charlie Lomas.

Ecstasy quickly changed to agony when a combination of a yellow card for Jordan Fern and a ground shaking run from Sandbach's lock dashed their hopes of victory.

Overall it was a credible performance from the Vale who gave their all, none more so than Oli Cowey and Wayne Blyth, who after their stint in the first team had no hesitation in answering the call to bolster the second team's ranks.

Lock Sam Hadlington had a splendid consistent game, receiving unstinting support from Sam Hoare and Rhys Randall. In the backs Charlie Lomas marked his return from injury with an authoritative performance, while his partner, Leon Gierke, further emphasised his class and talent. Winger Jordan Fern posed a threat throughout in a game that provoked plenty of discussion in Vale's camp after the final whistle.