BILLINGE put in the performance they had been threatening since the beginning of the season with a wonderful victory away at Congleton Vale.

What made the Storks' victory even sweeter and the performance all the better was that the Claret and Blues went into the game with a number of regulars missing and on the day of the game had to put wing-back Ryan Platt in goal.

Platt's performance set the standard as it took until the 85th minute and a screamer to get past him.

Meanwhile it is rumoured that Pep Guardiola has been on the phone as he loves a keeper that's good with his feet!

The Storks were 3-0 up when Platt was beaten and it was an all-round team performance that saw them through to this point.

Make no mistake Vale are a very decent team and moved the ball over the slick surface very well. In fact they were the best team for the first quarter-of-an-hour.

However around the 20 minute mark The Storks began to get a control of the game as Jamie Anderson blasted high and wide.

Seven minutes later Liam Platt rose high to flick on a long ball but a Stork man couldn't get close to follow it in.

On the half-hour mark Ste Wolhuter - who was magnificent throughout the game - put Liam Bowden in on goal but the striker was unable to control his shot and fired wide.

Five minutes later Wolhuter hit a magnificent diagonal ball to Steve Taylor who challenged the Vale full back in the air. The ball dropped to the ground and Taylor was first to react blasting the ball past the Congleton custodian to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

A minute later Bowden was almost through on the goal but the Vale keeper was quick off his line to deny him.

Congleton responded to this well but fortunately for The Storks one free header went wide before the home side grazed the bar with a cross/shot as Billinge held out for a 1-0 advantage at half-time.

If the midfields dominated the proceedings in the first period then the second 45 minutes was a more open affair.

Possession and territory was probably 50/50 between the teams but Billinge look the far more lethal of the outfits limiting the Cheshire side to long range efforts.

In fact it was just four minutes into the half when Bowden got his head to double The Storks' advantage.

Vale responded well with a sweeping move that ended in their striker firing just wide.

Bowden tested the keeper with a long range effort before getting his second and Billinge's third as Taylor produced a delightful drifted cross into his path for him to draw the keeper and slot home.

The tireless striker almost had his hat-trick as he unleashed a thunderbolt from 30 yards that the keeper managed to push round the post.

It was then that Congleton had their best period of the match as they looked to salvage some pride resulting in a worldie on 85 minutes that Platt had no chance with.

Just when you thought that Billinge were in for a nervy final five minutes The Storks took the game back to Vale as Taylor had a good effort from the edge of the box saved before Jamie Anderson got the goal of the game curling in a beautiful shot from the edge of the area to make the final score 4-1 to the visitors.

It was a fine team performance but special mentions must go to Bowden who never stopped running all day, Bradshaw who was outstanding in an unfamiliar centre-back position and Wolhuter and Anderson who were composed, resilient and skilful in midfield.

After the game manager Geoff Parr was delighted with the performance stating: "We have been there or thereabouts in all the games and just needed that bit of luck and maybe that little bit more from the players.

"We certainly got it from the players, took our chances and thoroughly deserve the three points.

"I had lads missing, players slotting into different positions and finished the game with at least three of the lads carrying knocks.

"All in all it shows the spirit we have within the club."

Next up in the league is the big local derby with Ashton Town on Wednesday night.