Port Vale

Vale v Plymouth - Match Report

Sunday 5th January 2014

Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle
FA Cup Third Round

PORT VALE: Sam Johnson, Liam Chilvers, Chris Shuker, Ben Williamson, Ryan Lloyd, Chris Birchall, Jordan Hugill.SUBS:Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Chris Robertson, Richard Duffy, Carl Dickinson, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Louis Dodds, Anthony Griffith, Doug Loft, Gavin Tomlin, Tom Pope.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Luke McCormack, Guy Branston, Romauld Boco, Luke Young, Paul Wotton, Nathan Thomas, Ben Purrington.SUBS:Jake Cole, Durrell Berry, Maxime Blanchard, Conor Hourihane, Lewis Alessandra, Reuben Reid, Dominic Blizzard, Neal TrormAN, Curtis Nelson, Tope Obadeyi, Andres Gurrieri.

minute.^th minute and Vale looked like they would go on and win it when Tom Pope headed home Vale’s second in the 35^thGavin Tomlin netted for the fourth consecutive game to put the Vale ahead in the 15

minute equaliser.^rd minute and Ben Purrington’s 73^stBut the visitors were having none of it, forcing a replay at Home Park thanks to strikes from Rueben Reid in the 51

Vale made four changes from the side that were beaten at Preston on New Year’s Day as they faced up to take on Plymouth Argyle – a home tie against Brighton & Hove Albion the prize for the winners.

Chris Neal returned after a spell out injured and he was joined by Chris Robertson, Anthony Griffith, and Jennison Myrie-Williams.

The unlucky four to miss out were Sam Johnson, Liam Chilvers, Chris Shuker and Chris Birchall, who were all on the bench for the game.

The two sides each started the game with obvious attacking intentions but were cancelling each other out in the opening minutes of the game.

minute when Neil Trorman wasn’t too far off the mark with a left-foot volley and seconds later Argyle went even closer when Andres Gurrieri struck the base of the post.^thThe visitors fired a warning in the 11

minute when they got their noses in front.^thVale had been put under a bit of pressure for a short while but answered in style in the 15

GOAL: did the rest, sending a glancing header past Jake Cole to put Vale in front.GAVIN TOMLINVale won a free kick on the left, which Jennison Myrie-Williams curled in invitingly and

It was Tomlin’s fifth goal of the season and the former Southend striker’s fourth goal in four games, having scored against Notts County, Rotherham United and Preston North End.

The visitors continued to show why they were unbeaten in their last four outings with a spirited display, causing problems for Vale at times and forcing the home side on the back foot.

GOAL: headed home.TOM POPEDespite that, Vale gave themselves some breathing space with a second goal on 35 minutes when

Doug Loft got down the left and sent in a teasing cross and Pope, leaning back slightly, powered a close range header past Cole and into the net.

A minute later the game was halted for Richard Duffy to receive treatment after he collapsed in a heap, obviously in severe pain, inside the Vale half.

minute.^thDuffy was subsequently stretchered off and his place was taken by Liam Chilvers in a straight swap in the 40

The first half came to an end just as Myrie-Williams shot into the ‘keeper’s hand after a knock on by Pope, but Vale will have been happy with the performance in the opening forty-five minutes.

GOAL: to crack home from 12 yards.REUBEN REID minute. Durrell Berry fed Lewis Allessandra who drew Chris Neal off his line and then squared for ^stThe visitors never lost heart and got themselves back in the game in the 51

All of a sudden the visitors seemed to have got their belief back and they went looking for a quick equaliser to rock the Vale, pressing the home side back deep inside their own half.

The game continued to swing from one end to the other, Tomlin going close on two occasions for the Vale, goalkeeper Cole denying him on each occasion.

minute with Louis Dodds making way for Ben Williamson, with Vale hoping his pace could make a difference.^thVale made a change in the 65

Two minutes later Vale ‘keeper Chris Neal made a superb reaction save to keep the visitors out when Conor Hourihane drilled a fierce free kick through a sea of bodies, with the Vale ‘keeper diving full length to his left to make the save.

minute with the introduction of Jordan Hugill for Jennison Myriw-Williams with the manager hoping fresh legs could do the trick.^thVale made a second substitution in the 67

GOAL: swept the ball home at the back post for a deserved equaliser with 73 minutes gone.BEN PURRINGTONBut the visitors were rewarded for their continuous pressing when substitute

Chris Neal made another terrific stop, this time to keep out Nathan Thomas and it was the visitors who looked the more likely to grab the all-decisive goal.

Andres Gurrieri almost snatched it for the visitors in stoppage time when his shot beat Chris Neal, but thudded against the foot of the post before being cleared.

In the end if Vale are to go through to the fourth round they will have to it the hard way down at Home Park, but they will have to play better in the replay if they are to succeed.