REPORT: Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale
Vale bowed out of the Checkatrade Trophy at the group stages after their game against Doncaster Rovers finished all square, with neither side able to find the net.
Attendance 1,492 including 92 visiting supporters
At the Keepmoat Stadium
Checkatrade Trophy
Tuesday 8th November 2016
Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale
The game went to penalties, but it didn’t matter to Vale who won that, because the extra point wasn’t enough to see them through. Vale did win after Miguel Santos saved two spot kicks, but in the end it counted for nothing.
Dan Turner led the attack against Doncaster Rovers as Vale made six changes to the starting eleven, and the maximum permitted five changes to the squad in their final group game in the Checkatrade Trophy..
In came Miguel Santos for Jak Alnwick, and he was joined by Calvin Mac-Intosch, Quentin Pereira, Anthony de Freitas and Sam Hart as the Valiants rang the changes.
There were a number of permutations regarding which results would see Vale progress to the next stage of the competition, but in a nutshell, a win would see Vale progress and a defeat would see Bruno Riberiro’s side go out.
minute when Turner’s close range header brought a save from Rovers’ ‘keeper Ross Etheridge.thVale were looking quite comfortable on the ball in the opening stages of the game and almost took the lead in the 7
Despite having enough of the ball, the home side seldom troubled the Vale back four, who were more than happy for their opponents to come at them.
minute when Liam Mandeville went down inside the Vale box. He was promptly booked for what the referee saw as a dive.thThe home side had appeals for a penalty turned down in the 20
minute.thDespite Vale keeping the home side largely at bay, Miguel Santos was called into action to push a rasping drive from Cedric Evina over his crossbar in the 24
Vale were at times playing some lovely and neat possession football, pressing the home side deep inside their own half, but were not really threatening in the final third, with Turner, cutting a lonely figure up front, needing more support.
The home side were quick out of the traps at the start of the second half and for the first time in the game Vale were on the back foot, defending to keep themselves in the competition.
By this time, with Mansfield in front against Derby County Under 21s, Vale knew that nothing less than a win would be good enough to see them go through.
minute, taking Kiko out of the action and replacing him with substitute Chris Mbamba.thVale made a change in the 56
A slip by Rovers’ keeper Etheridge saw the ball drop from his grasp, but despite being close to, the ball didn’t fall kindly for Sam Kelly to capitalise.
Vale changed tactics when they made a second change on 68 minutes, throwing on Rigino Cicilia up top with Dan Turner, with Sam Kelly making way.
minute when Paulo Tavares came off the bench to replace Anthony de Freitas.thVale made their third and final substitution in the 78
minute Etheridge came off his line sharply to save from Cicilia and with Derby levelling the scores against Mansfield, things were getting a little complicated.thIn the 89
There was still time for Santos to make a save at the other end, getting down low to his left to fingertip the ball around the post.
After ninety minutes the game went to penalties with the winners awarded an extra point. Unfortunately Mansfield scored what proved to be the winner in stoppage time , meaning Vale were out whatever happened at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Foir the record
DONCASTER ROVERS: Marko Marosi, Jordan Houghton, Tyler Walker, Morgan James, Frazer Richardson, Joe Pugh, Jacon Fletcher.SUBS:Ross Etheridge, Niall Mason, Cedric Evina, Craig Alcock, Mathieu Baudrey, Tyler Garratt, Paul Keegan, Riccardo Calder, Alfie Beestin, Will Longbottom, Liam Mandeville.
PORT VALE: Ryan Boot, Sebastien Amoros, Omar Haughton, Michael Brown, Chris Mbamba, Paulo Tavares, Rigino CiciliaSUBS:Miguel Santos, Calvin Mac-Intosch, Remie Streete, Sam Hart, Nathan Smith, Anthony Grant, Quentin Pereira, Anthony de Freitas, Kiko, Sam Kelly, Dan Turner.