Brewers 10 men finally droop in injury time.
Port Vale 2 (1) v BurtonAlbion 1 (1)
Wednesday 03 March 2010
Port Vale Reserves: Chris Martin, Ross Davidson, Matthew Bell (Andrew Bratt 23), Sam Morsy, Shaun Kelly, Luke Prosser, Simon Richman, Tommy Fraser (Jack McGowan 46), Danny Glover, Anthony Malbon, James Beeston. Subs not used: Sam Johnson, Ryan Lloyd, Charlie Raglan.
BurtonAlbion Reserves: Kevin Poole,KevinGrocott, Ben Turner (Benn Minshull 73), Romuald Boco, Danny Miley, Adrian Cann, James Knowles (Ben Pargo 73), Jimmy Phillips, Greg Pearson, Richard Walker (Matt Blake 83), Keith Gilroy. Subs not used: Danny Marsh.
The temperature at ValePark seemed a few degrees colder than those at Darlington the night before but no frozen patches here thanks to Speedy and crew. If the Burton names aren't correct I apologise but the team sheet was wrong and I believe the above to be correct. The game saw a chance for Shaun Kelly to show what he can do on his trial as Vale set off playing some crisp football. However the first real chance came from a Burton corner in the 6th minute and a powerful header was put over the bar by Glover to ensure Martin was called into action.
Vale's first real effort was from Glover as the quarter hour mark approached. His 25 yard shot came after a quick passing move but swerved well wide of the right hand post. Burton came back on attack and Pearson appeared to be in with a chance of a shot but Kelly neatly took the ball off his toe without fouling him to save the situation. Burton took the lead in the 18th minute as the ball skidded off Prosser's head as tried to head away a long ball. Romuald Boco, the Beninese national captain and known as "the King of Benin", had anticipated this and ran on to the ball to neatly lob over Martin and into the unguarded net.
Vale responded with a corner and Glover's downward header was blocked on the line and cleared away for another corner. Vale had an escape as Burton responded as a cross was deflected goalwards by a defender and although Martin parried it the rebound looked certain to be put away by Pearson until Bell dived in the block the shot. Unfortunately he was injured in this episode and unable to continue. A Fraser fee kick was punched away at full stretch by Poole as Vale tried for an equalizer.
Vale equalized in the 35th minute after yet another foul on Glover. Fraser drove the ball into the box and as it ricocheted around Kelly stabbed it home to bring Vale level. Vale should have gone ahead in injury time as Glover raced clear to the line and pulled it back to an unmarked Fraser 15 yards out but his shot was saved by Poole and soon after another shot by Fraser was deflected to Malbon but he was closed down as he shot and the Brewers escaped.
Early action in the second half saw Bratt see yellow for a tackle from behind on the halfway line. Glover hit a drive from 25 yards that Poole could only parry as Vale had the best of the early exchanges. From a 57th minute corner Prosser almost scored with a delicate overhead lob that was headed off the line and then Poole pushed it over the bar to safety. The visitors were reduced to 10 men after 60 minutes when Gilroy was sent off for a challenge on Morsy
Vale did most of the pressing but without looking like scoring and Martin made one good save from a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Morsy brought the ball forward with a determined run and found Malbon on the edge of the area, who turned and shot just wide of the far post. Vale continued to press for a winner with a Morsy shot being the closest but Poole saved at full stretch at the foot of the post. Vale snatched a win in added on time as another Morsy run saw him drive into the box and his shot was parried by Poole but Malbon was on hand to put it away at the far post. Vale almost added another but Richman was denied at point blank range by Poole.
Lindon Roberts - Port Vale Volunteers Group.
