Port Vale started their pre-season off in style as they hit Kidsgrove Athletic for six at the Novus Stadium.
Braces from Rekeil Pyke and Tyrone Barnett, supported by goals from Tom Pope and Cristian Montano to ensure a winning start to the 2017/18 preperations.
Several players who have been training with the squad were involved in Michael Brown’s squad, with Michael Tonge, Danny Green, Tom Walker, Gaetan Houara and Nicolas Giudiclli getting 45 minutes in the first half.
Vale looked impressive from the first whistle and could have seen themselves in the lead within seconds as Barnett turned and shot, only to have his effort cleared off the line.
Just five minutes in, Sam Hornby was tested for the first time in a Port Vale shirt as he got down low to block a fast-paced back heel, which was heading towards the bottom corner.
A few moments later, Barnett grabbed his first goal of the game after he latched onto escaping ball, executing a fine finish into the bottom corner.
It was a game where The Valiants could have easily reached double figures and it seemed to be heading that way with Barnett getting his second of the game in the 13th minute. His fine effort from 25-yards, looped over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net; much to the delight of the visiting supporters.
Vale’s latest signing was came off after his second goal as a precaution and he was replaced by youngster Mike Calverley was given an extended run-out.
Michael Brown’s side continued to look threatening and showed no remorse against their Evo-Stik counterparts with Tom Walker, and Calverley going close for The Valiants.
As the referee brought the first half to an end, Brown made eleven changes to his side, with the returning Tom Pope making his first appearance in a Vale shirt since his departure.
Straight off the back of half-time, Vale saw their third goal of the afternoon as Rekeil Pyke twist and turned inside the opposite box and placed his right-footed effort into the bottom corner on 51 minutes.
New signing Cristian Montano, showed his impressive ability in the second half by skipping past full-back Rhys Thompson and firing in a cross to Pope, but he narrowly missed the goal.
With 70 minutes gone, Pyke grabbed his second of the game to make it 4-0 to Vale. The striker picked up the ball from around the edge of the box and Rekeil saw the gap in the far corner and confidently slotted it home.
Finally, the Vale fans were given what they wanted as Pope finally got his goal. After a fantastic run from Billy Whitehouse, former Leeds man saw his original shot saved by the keeper only to fall to the feet of Pope, who fired home on the 80th minute.
Montano was the next man to get on the scoresheet as he looked lively all afternoon, with a goal surely brewing. His header finally saw Vale’s sixth goal of the game with Whitehouse getting another assist as Port Vale finished their first pre-season match in style.
Michael Brown’s side will next make the short journey to Newcastle Town on Tuesday night in The Valiants’ second game of the pre-season.
Port Vale:
First half: VALE: Hornby, Guidicelli, Davis, Kay (capt), Kelly, Lenoir, De Freitas, Tonge, Green, Barnett (Calverley, 20), Walker.
Second half: Lainton, Gibbons, Smith, Gunning, Walford, Whitehouse, Pugh (capt), Calverley, Montano, Pope, Pyke.
Kidsgrove: Trevor, Thompson, Bergin, Ashman, Dodds, Davidson, Diskin, Skelton, Sanders, Malbon, Cocks.
Subs: France, Frazier, Bath, Groom, Rhodes, Street.
Attendance: 1,473