I'LL START VALE TEARS (From Thisisdorset)

I'LL START VALE TEARS

7:02am Friday 25th January 2008

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STAR striker Sam Vokes is intent on putting Cherries' nearest rivals Port Vale to the sword tomorrow, fresh from his midweek heroics against Luton Town.

The Welsh under-21 forward was in fine form against the Hatters, providing assists for the opening two goals before scoring the third of his team's four strikes.

After admitting that his sublime 20-yard half-volley was one of the best goals in his fledgling career, Vokes emphasised the need for the Dean Court side to build on Tuesday's dramatic victory.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's League One relegation clash, which sees the division's bottom two lock horns at Vale Park, the Lymington-based teenager said: "It's a massive game for us. We're three points ahead of them now and, if we can get a win and pull away further, we've got a chance.

"We've just got to go there and do what we did well on Tuesday night."

The 18-year-old is hoping his eye-catching performance against Luton will earn him the nod from boss Kevin Bond.

"I'm getting a good run in the team. Getting the goal on Tuesday night helped and hopefully I will get a start again," he said.

Vokes's goal on Tuesday night, which brought Cherries back to 3-3 in the final minute, ranks among his finest efforts.

He said: "The ball was just bobbling around and I didn't even take a look at goal I just struck it and luckily it hit the back of the net.

"It's definitely one of my best because of the occasion. It was in the last minute as well so it's one of the best. It's up there anyway, especially in terms of the first-team goals I've scored. It was one of the better ones."

Vokes was paired up front alongside Jo Kuffour against Luton and the pair worked well in tandem, with Vokes's flick setting Kuffour on his way to score in the first half.

"We linked up well, had good movement and I think we did well," Vokes told the Daily Echo.

"A few games over Christmas it worked when I played on my own but on Tuesday it showed that with Jo up there it helps and we did well.

"It's quite hard up front on your own, especially against the more experienced pros at the back."

Another man hoping to face Vale is fellow homegrown frontman Brett Pitman, who notched the winning goal against Luton with a back-post header in stoppage time.

"I want to play every game but it's up to the manager," said Pitman.

"It's never easy to come off the bench but when you do you just need to do as well as you can. I don't get many headers so it was nice to score with my head."

Port Vale: (probable) Anyon, Mulligan, Pilkington, Lowe, Eckersley, Herd, Harsley, Howland, Whitaker, Rodgers, Mickaelson.

Cherries: (from) Pryce, Young, Perrett, Gowling, Cummings, Pearce, Hollands, Cooper, Tessem, Bartley, Partington, Pitman, Kuffour, Bradbury, Vokes, McQuoid, Franks, Stewart.

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