Alsager Town v Port Vale
Vale started their pre-season matches with a convincing win over Alsager Town on a difficult surface, in a game which was played in the right spirit by both teams on view.
Micky Adams elected to play two completely different sides, one in each half, with the emphasis on giving his squad much needed game time as they build up their fitness.
Chris Shuker almost gave Vale a 9thminute lead when he got his head on the end of a right wing cross from Ashley Vincent, only to be denied by the upright
Vale had a few chances to get their noses in front, but had to wait until the 29thminute for the breakthrough, when Tom Pope latched on to a long ball from Adam Yates and rounded the 'keeper to slot home.
Vincent did get his name on the scoresheet before half time, however, when he finished in style from close range in the 43rdminute.
As planned beforehand, Micky Adams sent out a different eleven for the second half and Vale added a further two goal within the opening eight minutes.
Two minutes later Vale doubled their lead Vincent looked to have got the final touch to an angled drive from Pope, but he admitted afterwards that it had come of an Alsager defender.
On trial Tadhg Purcell netted Vale's fourth in the 49thminute and the former Darlington striker struck again with an overhead kick just four minutes later.
Alsager 'keeper James Curley made important saves to deny Ben Williamson and Kingsley James within seconds of each other, and then kept out both Clayton McDonald and Gareth Owen, as Vale piled on the pressure.
Vale extended their lead in the 72ndminute when Williamson collected a long kick from Sam Johnson. He still had plenty to do, but kept his cool before spotting the opening and slotting home.
Williamson grabbed his second, and Vale's eighth, from a tight angle with eight minutes remaining and Purcell completed his hat-trick from close range in the 88thminute after Ryan Lloyd's goal attempt was blocked on the line.