Match Report from Home Park
Tuesday 14th January 2014
Plymouth Argyle v Port Vale
FA Cup third round replay
6,474 including 132 visiting supporters At Home Park
Attendance:
Jake Cole, Durrell Berry, Conor Hourihane, Lewis Alessandra, Reuben Reid, Dominic Blizzard, Neal Trotman, Curtis Nelson, Isaac Vassell, Ben Purrington, Andres Gurrieri. SUBS: Maz Blanchard, Rommy Boco, Luke Young, Paul Wotton, Nathan Thomas, Jamie Richards, Luke McCormick. PLYMOUTH:
Sam Johnson, Chris Shuker, Ben Williamson, Ryan Lloyd, Gary O'Neil, Chris Birchall SUBS: Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Chris Robertson, Carl Dickinson, Doug Loft, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Chris Lines, Anthony Griffith, Louis Dodds, Jordan Hugill, Tom Pope. PORT VALE:
Vale twice came from behind to eventually see off a a strong challenge from Plymouth Argyle to book their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup and a home tie against Brighton.
Vale were a shadow of themselves during a poor opening forty-five minutes at half time and trailed at the break, despite Jordan Hugill levelling after the home side had taken an early lead.
Substitute Ben Williamson levelled and then Jennison Myrie-Williams hit the winner, before Chris Neal saved a spot kick after Chris Lines was sent off for a professional foul.
Centre half Joe Davis found out just an hour and a half before kick off that he was ineligible for the FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle as he was on loan at Luton when the first tie was played.
Vale were unaware of the ruling until ninety minutes before kick off and Davis, who had been named in the starting eleven, was hastily withdrawn.
Chris Robertson and Carl Dickinson came back into the side in the heart of the Vale defence and Jordan Hugill was chosen to partner Tom Pope up front,
There was also a return to the starting line-up for winger Jennison Myrie-Williams with Chris Birchall dropping to the bench.
GOAL: stole in at the back post to meet a left wing cross from Conor Hourihane to plant a firm downward header past Chris Neal..ANDRES GURRIERIVale couldn’t have got off to a worse start, going behind after just ninety seconds when
Vale seemed to struggle to stamp their authority on the game and found the pace of Reuben Reid a problem at time.
minute.thCarl Dickinson was booked for bringing the Plymouth man down as he sprinted towards goal in the 13
The home side looked at times like they had an extra man on the pitch and they had Robertson to thank when he blocked a shot from Gurrieri after Vale had been carved open, not for the first time.
Vale offered very little in return and looked in trouble again when Alessandra pulled the ball back for Reid, who tried to find room for a shot which in the end didn’t have enough on it to trouble Chris Neal.
Louis Dodds sent a shot wide of the post at the other end – Vale’s first effort on goal with more than half of the opening forty-five minutes gone.
Jennison Myrie-Williams then met a cross from Adam Yates but shot wide, with Vale looking like perhaps they had finally woken up.
GOAL: played a one-two with Louis Dodds before slotting home from the edge of the area.JORDAN HUGILL minute when thSure enough Vale were on level terms just moments later in the 29
GOAL: through the middle and he shrugged off the attentions of three Vale defenders to stroke the ball past Neal from twenty yards.LEWIS HOURIHANEVale were on level terms for just six minutes. Alessandra fed
Vale were getting caught out at the back far too easily and struggled to cope with anybody who ran at them with pace.
Vale came out for the second half looking a lot hungrier and more composed, playing keep ball deep inside the Plymouth half for the opening ten minutes or so.
Doug Loft caught the ball 35 yards out with a screamer which flew inches over Jake Cole’s crossbar as Vale continued to dominate affairs.
minute and was replaced by Chris Shuker two minutes later. Vale made it a double substitution with Ben Williamson coming on for Jordan Hugill.thMidfielder Anthony Griffth received a knock in the 58
GOAL: made his mark, getting his head to a Myrie-Williams cross to put the Valiants on level terms.BEN WILLIAMSONTwo minutes later
Vale continued to have the majority of the possession but needed to make it count and the home side almost crept back in front, had Neal not got a hand to Hourihane’s free kick from just outside the box.
GOAL: beat Cole with a sweet half volley from 12 yards with 75 minutes on the clock.JENNISON MYRIE-WILLIAMSVale made their hosts pay just a minute later when Tom Pop flicked on and
minute for denying Hourihane a goal scoring opportunity inside the box, conceding a penalty.thVale went down to ten men when Chris Lines was given a straight red card in the 78
Reuben Reid eventually placed the ball on the spot and hit it hard to Chris Neal’s right, but the Vale ‘keeper guessed correctly to make the save to keep Vale in front.
Two minutes later Vale made their third change, Micky Adams preferring the defensive abilities of Chris Birchall to those of Myrie-Williams.
Neal pulled off a decent save, going low to his left to keep out a shot from Gurrieri as the home side went looking for a late equaliser.