It was a disappointing afternoon for Port Vale as they fell to a 1-0 loss at The New Lawn in the hands of Forest Green Rovers. A second-half goal from Reuben Reid was the difference between the two sides as The Valiants suffered a defeat.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Port Vale as they fell to a 1-0 loss at The New Lawn in the hands of Forest Green Rovers.
A second-half goal from Reuben Reid was the difference between the two sides as The Valiants suffered a defeat.
Vale looked positive from the off and began to push forward through Marcus Harness. His low cross was forced away by former defender Gavin Gunning who left the club for today’s opponents this week.
Ben Whitfield was next to try his look from distance where the tricky winger cut inside and struck towards goal from 30-yards, only to go wide.
Daniel Wishart looked lively in the opening quarter of an hour and was keen to test Neil Aspin’s back four. His run towards goal took advantage of James Gibbons as he shot towards Ryan Boot who held well.
Top goalscorer attempted to continue his impressive goalscoring record with Forest Green with a good header at the backpost from Reece Brown’s deep corner. Luckily for The Valiants, his header hit the side netting on 19 minutes.
The game went quiet for a while with both sides getting used to the small pitch at The New Lawn.
Harness continued to look lively throughout the rest of the first-half, try his luck on goal several times – unfortunately unsuccessfully.
The two sides went in the break at 0-0 with neither side threatening eachother too much.
The Burton Albion loanee continued to cause problems down the left-hand side for Rovers as Harness pushed forward on the 49th minute. His pace got in behind Monthe but couldn’t convert with his weaker foot.
It seemed a much livelier second-half with Brown next trying his luck with a left-footed strike which flew well-over Ryan Boot’s bar. A first sub for Vale too as Cristian Montano replaced Ben Whitfield.
Rovers went close once again through Reuben Reid as his header went just wide following Monthe’s short cross.
Finally, there was a goal at The New Lawn as Reid scored his first goal for the club on the 61st minute. He picked the ball out from 25-yards and fired it into the top corner with his weaker foot.
With Port Vale needing a goal, Tyrone Barnett looked to be the man of the moment as he replaced Antony Kay with just under 30 minutes to play.
Harness continued to cause more issues for the Forest Green defence as he went close once again. Danny Pugh’s cross could have been headed by the youngster as the ball whizzes across the goal without that vital touch.
Doidge went close once again for hosts, getting the slightest of touches on Scott Laird’s cross, only to go wide on 74 minutes.
David Worrall looked to get Vale’s all-important goal but his effort hit the side netting after firing from an awkward angle.
It was Dior Angus’s time to shine in a Vale shirt as he made his first-team debut replacing Harness on 75 minutes.
A frustrating period was yet to come for Port Vale as Barnett was the next culprit to go close – firing just wide with five to play.
A disappointing evening for Port Vale as they fall to a defeat at Forest Green. Yeovil Town next for The Valiants as they make the trip to Burslem next week.
FGR Team: B. Collins, Laird, L. Collins ©, Monthe, Doidge, Brown (Grubb 61), Gunning, Wishart, Rawson, Reid, Osbourne.
Unused Subs: Pickering, Marsh-Brown, Simpson, Whittle, James, Stevens.
Port Vale Team: Boot, Gibbons, Davis, Smith, Pugh, Tonge, Kay (Barnett 63), Harness (Angus 75), Worrall, Whitfield (Montano 45), Pope ©.
Unused Subs: Lainton, Forrester, Regis, Kelly.