The first ten minutes were a siege.
Apex was pinned back, their midfield unable to get a foothold.
In the 8th minute, a Port Vale midfielder, already on a yellow card for a cynical foul on Kenny McLean, slid in late on Emre.
The referee blew his whistle but kept his cards in his pocket, giving the player a final, stern warning.
"Are you kidding me, ref?!" Ethan screamed from the sideline, his voice hoarse. "That's a second yellow all day long! He's trying to kick us off the park!"
The Port Vale manager just grinned, a picture of smug satisfaction.
His team was winning the physical battle.
In the 14th minute, the pressure told. Port Vale's left-winger, a player with a speed rating that felt like a glitch in the game, received the ball. His name was Leo "Jet" Evans, and he lived up to the nickname.
He knocked the ball past the Apex right-back, Jack Stacey, and just ran.
It wasn't a contest. He was a blur of motion, a force of nature.
