Vale get their pre-season games under way with the perfect start
Vale began their pre-season friendlies with a traditional away fixture at the Aspire Stadium, where they faced Newcastle Town in scorching sunshine.
Vale had four trialists in their midst, three of them in the starting eleven, as they faced Newcastle Town at the Aspire Stadium for the first of their pre-season friendlies.
They included Javan Vidal, formerly of Rochdale, Michael O’Connor (Rotherham United), Steven Jennings (Tranmere Rovers) and Frenchman Sylvester Guyonet (Avranches)
It was a test of fitness for the Vale squad, several of whom still had aching muscled going into the game – a product of Micky Adams’ strict pre-season training regime.
But Vale finished with a comfortable 6-0 victory and the manager will be pleased with how his players coped against an eager Newcastle outfit.
In truth, neither starting choice Sam Johnson, nor Chris Neal, who played in the second forty five minutes had an awful lot to do in the Vale goal, though the home side did twice rattle the frame of the goal in the first half.
minute, the home side went straight down the other end and this time it was Tom Urwin going close, striking the upright.thBen Mills hit the Vale bar after just two minutes and after Tom Pope saw his header strike the angle of the post and crossbar in the 11
GOAL: curled the resulting 15 yard free kick into the net.LINESCHRISTwo minutes later Vale got their noses in front and they never looked back. Michael O’Connor was fouled by Aaron Carter and
Tom Pope had the ball in the net on 25 minutes but it was ruled out for offside and eight minutes later it was Pope who was causing problems again.
GOAL: was on hand to tap the ball over the line from close range.COLIN DANIELWith 33 minutes on the clock the home defence struggled to cope with Pope’s looping header and
Micky Adams made eight changes for the second half, with Chris Lines, Carl Dickinson, Michael O’Connor, Ryan McGivern, Chris Robertson, Sam Johnson, Tom Pope and Colin Daniel all changing into their training kit.
On came Chris Neal, Richard Duffy, Nathan Smith, Adam Yates, Chris Birchall, Silvestre Guyonet, Ryan Lloyd and Ben Williamson all lining up for the second forty-five minutes.
GOAL: cemented Vale’s lead and the home side were not going to recover from that.RYAN LLOYDTwo goals in as many minutes from Vale youngster
minute and with nobody else available to take his place, third-choice ‘keeper Ryan Boot joined the action as an outfield player.thAfter a couple of blows to the face and a stumble, Frenchman Guyonet went off in the 66
GOAL: finished off a neat move involving Louis Dodds three minutes later, smashing home Vale’s sixth to complete the scoring.JAVAN VIDAL minutes later, then th in the 77BEN WILLIAMSONVale’s fifth goal came from
PORT VALE Chris Neal, Richard Duffy, Nathan Smith, Adam Yates, Sylvestre Guyonet, Ryan Lloyd, Ben Williamson.SUBS:: Sam Johnson, Javan Vidal, Carl Dickinson, Michael O’Connor, Ryan McGivern, Chris Robertson, Louis Dodds, Steven Jenning, Tom Pope, Chris Lines, Colin Daniel.
NEWCASTLE TOWN:Jordan Cole, Matt Lowe, Matt Haddrell, Ryan Connor, Kevyn Davies, Stuart Dickin. : SUBSJoe Mellor, James Askey, Ricky Bridge, Leon Ashman, Aaron Carter, Christian Millar, Tom France, Andy Nicholls, Ben Mills, Tim Sanders, Tom Urwin.