Team Manager, Dan Rainford, was able to assemble a strong squad to face a club that was three places above Vale but the hosts needed to be at their collective best because they knew what would flying in their direction after witnessing Glossop's strenuous, chest beating warm up programme.
All the Callanetics were well worth it because they quickly reaped the benefit with a converted try after five minutes. Vale quickly put behind them this set back when Ryan “Buzzer” Busby crossed for a try with the throttle wide open, which he converted.
It was always going to be a juicy forward battle much to the liking of props, Joe Stevens and Ewan Hutchinson, while hooker Matt Davenport was never far away from the action. Locks Adam Foxcroft and Joe Harrison were strong in the sets and lively in the loose much to their liking. An experienced back row of Luke Kettlewell, Dom Griffiths and Isaac Newton ensured the Glossop half back's lines of communication were disrupted.
In the centre Alex Batson and Alfie Bolton developed into a most elusive, quick thinking duo and their skills paved the way for an Alfie Bolton to accelerate away for a try which “Buzzer” converted.
Glossop started to apply forward pressure but Vale's defence was superb, with Adam Dalton and Ryan Fawcett directing operations. A huge kick downfield from Ryan Busby ended with Alfie Bolton collecting his second try converted again by “Buzzer's” trusty boot. In an engrossing first half wingers Harrison Dodge and Petra Alexov saw little of the ball which was a pity because both players have a lively turn of pace.
An enterprising opening to the second half from Vale ended with a try from “Buzzer” after Ryan Fawcett had delivered a perfect pass, naturally “Buzzer” kicked the conversion.
Luke Kettlewell was ideally placed to deal with Glossop's tactical kicking and his reading of the game allowed Vale to keep control but Glossop's forwards did engineer an unconverted try.
Alfie collected his hat trick following a supportive run from Campbell Murrell. Shane Weed entered the fray as did Louis Evans, son of Vale's techno-guru, Scott Evans. Glossop did come back late in the game with a converted try but by then Vale were home and dry.
It was a day to remember for Alfie, he fully deserved all the plaudits and being named Man of the Match, but special mention must be of the impressive shift put in by the forwards. Another test awaits the seconds when they travel to Birkenhead Park on Saturday.