Vale versus Walsall finishes all square
Port Vale 1 (1) v Walsall 1 (1)
Wednesday 09 December 2015
RESERVES DRAW AGAIN WITH HOOPER REACHING 6 GOALS MARK
PORT VALE:Ryan Boot, Connor White, Aziz Deen-Conteh,Chekaine Steele,Mackenzie Faulkner,Taylor Attrell,Omar Haughton,Michael Brown, Uche Ikpeazu, JJ Hooper, Colin Daniel.
SUBS NOT USED:Harry Pickering, Jonny Kapend,James Gibbons,Alex Morris, Brad Ede.
WALSALL:Craig MacGillivray, Dan Vann, Reakwon Smith,Liam Kinsella, Matt Preston, Kyle Rowley, Levi Rowley, James Baxendale, Reece Flanagan,Amadou Bakayoko,Jordan Murphy.
SUBS NOT USED:Lexion Cela, Bradley Caswell, Ashley Masddocks.
Vale’s reserve team had a completely different look than last week’s line-up with many first team squad players getting game time as well as Connor White, the trialist named last week whose papers did not go through in time did making the pitch this week. White is a full back and a former scholar at Chesterfield. Walsall’s only defeat so far was at home to the Vale in the first game of the season and that was Vale’s only League win but with a strong wind hampering constructive football it was the visitors who dominated the early stages of the game as it was at their back. Boot made on good save after earlier spilling a shot and being relieved to see the attacker about to pounce being flagged offside.
was on hand to force the ball past the ‘keeper as they both went for the ball. The lead only lasted a quarter of an hour before a spectacular equaliser made the score realistic; a clearance from Boot held up in the wind and dropped to Flanagan 40 yards out, realising the ‘keeper was off his line he arrowed the ball back over Boot’s head and into the empty net.Hooper minute, fired a low cross at the near post where rdAs is often the case it was the team under pressure who made the initial breakthrough as Deen-Conteh, in Vale’s first meaningful attack in the 23
The game was now more equal and before the break Hooper had a header and shot that threatened and trialist White, who had shown some nice touches, got in an important challenge after Boot had spilled a strong shot in the final minute of the half.
The second half began with nice work by Steele and Haughton before Hooper shot over and then Daniel had a long range effort that flew over the bar. The best chance came on the hour mark as a left wing cross to the back post saw Haughton side foot an effort on target butMacGillivray spread himself well to block the effort on the line.
Flanagan, who was Walsall’s main threat pulled a shot past the far post as Walsall had a spell of dominance. Attrell and Faulkner were both playing well at the back to restrict the opportunities for the visitors but Attrell excelled with a good block and then a tackle on an attacker who was threatening to break away. Steele saw his name go in the book during this period after he made his second poor tackle of the game.
Boot was called into action to make a save low down from Levi Rowley at the foot of his post at the expense of a corner. Ikpeazu turner well on the edge of the box and his curled effort towards the far corner was plucked out of the air by MacGillivray and then Hooper shot over the bar. Vale made one last attempt to win the game as a left wing cross flew across Walsall’s penalty area a number of Vale players just failed to get on the end of and the game finished level which was a realistic result.
Lindon Roberts – Port Vale Volunteers Group