YOUNG RESERVES TEAM EARN DESERVED DRAW AT WREXHAM
WREXHAM:Liam Sharp, Javan Vidal, Jake Doran, Ross White (Joe Williams 62), Ryan O’Reilly, Johnny Smith, Iwan Cartwright, Aaron Simpson, Louis Briscoe, Danny Reynolds, James Gray.
SUBS NOT USED:Reece Airey, Leo Smith, Rakim Newton, Leroy Jennings.
PORT VALE:Calum Ferrie, James Gibbons, Alex Morris, Mike Calveley, Mackenzie Faulkner, Taylor Attrell, Brad Ede, Chekaine Steele, Daniel Turner, Achille Campion (Brian Barton 65), Charlie Walford (Brian Conlon 69).
SUBS NOT USED:Joe Slinn, Ben Fraser, Liam Mottram.
In bright sunshine Vale met Wrexham for the second time in 2 weeks which was somewhat different from the driving rain and wind in Burslem for the first meeting. The game got off to a slow start and 10 minutes had elapsed before the first goalmouth incident as Reynolds headed a cross just wide from 6 yards. Vale responded with a ball just failing to reach Turner in a promising position before Sharpe pulled off a reaction save to keep Wrexham level on the quarter hour mark. Vale’s had won a second free kick in quick succession and Walford’s driven dead-ball effort saw a deflection from O’Reilly goal bound until the ‘keeper’s hand shot out to push the ball to safety.
to run on to; he out-muscled and then out-paced the defender before cutting in on goal and hitting the top corner of the net even though Sharpe got a hand to the ball. 9 minutes later and Vale almost doubled their lead as a quick passing move cit through Wrexham’s defence and a final one – two saw between Campion and Steele saw Campion just foiled by a diving save at his feet and then the ‘keeper got a second touch to knock the free ball away just as Steele tried to put it away.TurnerThe Vale goal came on 18 minutes as the ball was won just inside the Vale half and ran to Ede who played the ball up the wing for
Briscoe had a snap-shot easily held by Ferrie and then a long range effort was well wide of the Vale goal as Wrexham pushed for an equaliser. O’Reilly was booked for a fouls and from the resulting free-kick a chance arose for Campion but his shot was blocked by Sharpe and then in the following scramble a Vale player was given offside. In the final minute of the half Ferrie pulled off a point blank save to preserve Vale’s lead.
Vale started the second period on the front foot with Campion breaking down the left wing and his low cross was cut out, at the expense of a corner, just before it reached Turner lurking in the 6 yard box. However, with only 4 minutes of the half gone a Smith corner was headed home by Gray at the back post to bring the game level. Reynolds then ran through the Vale defence as various attempts were made to bring him down, but the ball eventually ran out of [play so the referee brought the game back for a free-kick on the edge of the area which was blasted way over the bar.
Turner tried to play in Barton but a half tackle on him saw the ball run to the ‘keeper and safety. Wrexham nearly took the lead as Smith came down the right wing, cut in on goal and fired past Ferrie but it was not on target and as another forward tried to force it home Ferrie recovered to block the shot and the scramble the ball away.
After 75 minutes Wrexham’s goal scorer was sent off for taking a kick at Ede, although he missed it was after the ball had gone but straight in front of the referee who immediately produced a red card. This seemed to fire up the Dragons and they looked the more likely winners as Ferrie denied ex-Vale triallist Javan and then block a shot from Smith before a long range effort from Briscoe went wide of the far post as the game ended all square.
Lindon Roberts – Port Vale Volunteers Group