Match report from Vale Park
Saturday 22nd February 2014
Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra
League One
Attendance:
At Vale Park
There were further problems for the Valiants when Inman netted a third for the Alex, before Tom Pope pulled a goal back in the 76th minute to give a small measure of respectability to the scoreline.
Mathais Pogba bundled the ball home to give the visitors the lead against the run of player and the visitors extended that lead from the spot three minutes into the second half.
Crewe eased their relegation fears with a deserved three points against a Vale side who started well enough, but who lost their way somewhat after going behind in the 14th minute.
7,812 including 1174 visiting supporters
Vale were looking to complete their first league double over the Railwaymen since the 1985/86 season, after coming away from the Alexandra Stadium with all three points back in November.
Micky Adams had hinted at changes for the visit of South Cheshire neighbours Crewe Alexandra, but in fact made just the one change, including Jordan Hugill up fron to partner Top Pope, with Ben Williamson on the bench.
Steve Phillips, Kelvin Mellor, Adam Dugdale, Abdul Osman, Liam Nolan, Valaine Oliver, Billy Waters.
SUBS: Ben Garratt, Matt Tootle, Harry Davis, Mark Ellis, Mathais Pogba, Byron Moore, Braden Inman, Jon Guthrie, George Evans, Chuks Aneke, Anthony Grant. CREWE ALEX:
Sam Johnson, Louis Dodds, Chris Birchall, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Billy Knott, Ben Williamson, Gavin Tomlin
SUBS: Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Jack Grimmer, Joe Davis, Carl Dickinson, Chris Lines, Anthony Griffith, Doug Loft, Daniel Jones, Jordan Hugill, Tom Pope. PORT VALE:
Vale were not too far off striking first when Doug Loft, leaning back slightly, got his head to Adam Yates’ cross, but Garratt was able to collect fairly comfortably.
But on five minutes it was the visitors’ turn to come close when Joe Davis took his eye off the ball and miscontrolled, presenting Chuks Aneke with a golden opportunity, but fortunately for Vale he failed to hit the target, firing inches wide.
minute against the run of play.thVale had been having the majority of the ball, but it was Crewe who drew first blood, going in front in the 14
GOAL: before rolling over the line almost in slow motion.MATHAIS POGBAA short corner from the visitors was crossed into the box by Byron Moore and the initial effort on goal was headed off the line by Jones, but the ball finally came off
It certainly opened the game up with the visitors seemingly growing with confidence and they really ought to have added to their lead with two decent chances within the space of a minute.
minute, forcing a superb save from Chris Neal, then barely a minute later Aneke somehow prodded wide from 3 yards with the goal at his mercy.thPogba hit a corker of a shot in the 25
The Alex were starting to enjoy a spell on top and Vale were looking increasingly worried in defence as the visitors went looking for a second goal.
Vale boss Micky Adams responded with a double substitution on 32 minutes. On came Gavin Tomlin and Jennison Myrie-Williams, replacing Jordan Hugill and Joe Davis.
Within four minutes of the changes being made Vale were almost on level terms when a deep cross from the left by Loft was met by the head of Tom Pope and his header crashed off the crossbar with Garratt well beaten.
Seconds later Pope shot across the face of goal and Chris Lines stretched out a leg but just couldn’t get the necessary touch to convert at the far post.
Vale were not having it all their own way, but they again went close when Myrie-Williams was giving time inside the Crewe box, he picked out Pope, but this time the striker was denied by Harry Davis, who headed off the line.
GOAL: sent Chris Neal the wrong way from the spot.CHUKS ANEKE minute and thCrewe got off to the perfect start in the second half when Matt Tootle was upended inside the box by Doug Loft in the 48
minute. Billy Knott was ready to come on as a substitute when Jack Grimmer came out worse after a fifty-fifty tackle and play was held up for a couple of minutes.thThings went from bad to worse in the 54
Grimmer was eventually stretchered off, but the substitution still went ahead, with Anthony Griffith dropping in as a makeshift centre half.
Vale had Daniel Jones to thank for preventing the visitors from increasing their lead when he slid in late to make a block to prevent a certain third goal.
GOAL: was allowed to force his way into the Vale box to slot home inside Neal’s right hand post.BRADDEN INMANThat third goal eventually came, however, with the Vale defence in tatters when
GOAL TOM POPE minute looping header at the far post.thalmost pulled a goal back but he was denied when his chip was touched over the bar by Garratt, but from the resulting flag kick the Vale striker made no mistake with a 76
A slip by Dickinson saw Aneke race through on goal but Neal did well to keep him out, diving low to his right to turn the ball around the upright for a corner kick.
Vale were not too far off striking first when Doug Loft, leaning back slightly, got his head to Adam Yates’ cross, but Garratt was able to collect fairly comfortably.
But on five minutes it was the visitors’ turn to come close when Joe Davis took his eye off the ball and miscontrolled, presenting Chuks Aneke with a golden opportunity, but fortunately for Vale he failed to hit the target, firing inches wide.
minute against the run of play.thVale had been having the majority of the ball, but it was Crewe who drew first blood, going in front in the 14
GOAL: before rolling over the line almost in slow motion.MATHAIS POGBAA short corner from the visitors was crossed into the box by Byron Moore and the initial effort on goal was headed off the line by Jones, but the ball finally came off
It certainly opened the game up with the visitors seemingly growing with confidence and they really ought to have added to their lead with two decent chances within the space of a minute.
minute, forcing a superb save from Chris Neal, then barely a minute later Aneke somehow prodded wide from 3 yards with the goal at his mercy.thPogba hit a corker of a shot in the 25
The Alex were starting to enjoy a spell on top and Vale were looking increasingly worried in defence as the visitors went looking for a second goal.
Vale boss Micky Adams responded with a double substitution on 32 minutes. On came Gavin Tomlin and Jennison Myrie-Williams, replacing Jordan Hugill and Joe Davis.
Within four minutes of the changes being made Vale were almost on level terms when a deep cross from the left by Loft was met by the head of Tom Pope and his header crashed off the crossbar with Garratt well beaten.
Seconds later Pope shot across the face of goal and Chris Lines stretched out a leg but just couldn’t get the necessary touch to convert at the far post.
Vale were not having it all their own way, but they again went close when Myrie-Williams was giving time inside the Crewe box, he picked out Pope, but this time the striker was denied by Harry Davis, who headed off the line.
GOAL: sent Chris Neal the wrong way from the spot.CHUKS ANEKE minute and thCrewe got off to the perfect start in the second half when Matt Tootle was upended inside the box by Doug Loft in the 48
minute. Billy Knott was ready to come on as a substitute when Jack Grimmer came out worse after a fifty-fifty tackle and play was held up for a couple of minutes.thThings went from bad to worse in the 54
Grimmer was eventually stretchered off, but the substitution still went ahead, with Anthony Griffith dropping in as a makeshift centre half.
Vale had Daniel Jones to thank for preventing the visitors from increasing their lead when he slid in late to make a block to prevent a certain third goal.
GOAL: was allowed to force his way into the Vale box to slot home inside Neal’s right hand post.BRADDEN INMANThat third goal eventually came, however, with the Vale defence in tatters when
GOAL TOM POPE minute looping header at the far post.thalmost pulled a goal back but he was denied when his chip was touched over the bar by Garratt, but from the resulting flag kick the Vale striker made no mistake with a 76
A slip by Dickinson saw Aneke race through on goal but Neal did well to keep him out, diving low to his right to turn the ball around the upright for a corner kick.