Port Vale 4(2) v Sheffield Wednesday 1(0)

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Port Vale Reserves: Joe Anyon, Charlie Raglan, Mathew Bell, David Howland, John McCombe, Luke Prosser, Simon Richman, Ross Davidson, James Lawrie, Sean Rigg, Sam Morsy (James Beeston 77). Subs not used: David Watson, Alec Hague, Sam Christenson, Liam Rice.

Sheffield Wednesday Reserves: Richard O'Donnell, Callum Pinhorn (Brandon Cardwell 45),Nick Haywood, Patrick Lacey (Jack Poulton 65), Jack Barnett, Cecil Nyoni, Patrick Meehan, Liam Palmer, Charlie Tunnard (William Kendall 79), Nathan Modest, Danny Kirkland. Subs not used: Sean Cuff, Max Wragg,

With Brian Laws leaving Hillsborough the day before the game it was an opportunity for the Wednesday players to show what they could do, but it was a youthful squad that arrived at Vale Park as prospective first team players were apparently been saved for the weekend action. It also gave Vale the chance to leap into mid-table at the halfway stage of the season at the expense of Macclesfield and Wednesday.

The game kicked in front of a handful of fans in cold weather, but the crowd were soon warmed up as Morsy fed Bell whose cross was cut out for a corner. Howland swung the ball over and McCombe towered over everyone as he headed home without challenge to Vale in front in the 7^th minute. The one goal advantage only lasted for 6 minutes as it was doubled to a 2 goal lead when Bell's cross was collected by Lawrie who neatly sidestepped his defender to slot the ball home from 12 yards.

Vale should have gone even further ahead in the 23^rd minute when a ball over the top put in Rigg who held off a challenge, knocked the ball past the 'keeper but then scuffed his shot wide of an empty net. In the 27^th minute another corner saw McCombe glance a header inches wide of the far post as Vale continued to dominate through to the break with Anyon untroubled.

Vale increased their lead in the second minute of the second half as a cross by Rigg from the right was played on by Morsy to Lawrie who netted his second of the night. Wednesday responded from the kick off and a 20 yard shot by Kirkland seemed to be well covered by Anyon but he was deceived by the bounce and it skipped over his outstretched hand and into the net to bring the lead back to 2 goals.

Vale nearly restored the 3 goal advantage when Lawrie collected turned past his man and shot across goal but it whistled a yard over the bar. Again Wednesday replied with an attack that saw Meehan's shot blocked but with Anyon out of position Modest's shot looked goal bound until McCombe stepped in to head clear.

Anyon got his fingertips to a long range drive by Palmer in the 76^th minute to tip it on to the post, the ball ran free and Tunnard brought another good save out of Anyon to keep Vale's advantage in a half that was proving much more even than the first period. With 3 minutes remaining Vale had some good luck as a 25 yard bullet from Kendall beat Anyon but came back off the inside of the post and across the goal for Anyon to gratefully chase and collect. As the game went into added-on time a penalty was given for a foul on Richman and Lawrie stepped up to take the penalty. His first shot was saved but he put away the rebound to claim his hat trick and the match ball with the game ending at the restart.

Lindon Roberts - Port Vale Volunteers Group.

Take a look at the Match Gallery HERE

Vale Reserves' Results & Fixtures HERE