A stalemate here at Vale Park as neither side were able to make any changes to the scoreboard. Will Swan made his first start for the club as the points are shared.
Both teams gained a point to move themselves further clear of the bottom places. Leon Legge returned to the side and was part of a defence that was solid all game against the visitors attack.
Darrell Clarke’s first home game in charge took a bit of time to get going, neither team really got their foot on the ball in the opening quarter of an hour. Jack Aitchison had a half chance on 14 minutes but his shot was brilliantly blocked by James Gibbons before clearing the ball up field. Remeao Hutton put a dangerous driven ball into the box two minutes later which Nathan Smith diverted towards his own goal but quick reactions from Scott Brown stopped the ball from crossing the line.
Vale would love to recreate their last home match score line when they beat Southend 5-1. With 17 minutes played Luke Joyce ran onto a loose ball following a free kick and drilled the ball low at goal but just dragged his shot wide of the post. A dangerous free kick was awarded to Stevenage, around 25 yards out, which was struck well by Joe Martin who hit the stanchion on 20 minutes.
The visitors were in good form coming into the game, dragging themselves away from the bottom two. Swan had the Valiants first shot on target after 21 minutes, his strike was comfortably saved but Jamie Cumming in the Stevenage goal. Two minutes later Devante Rodney got onto the end of a long ball forward by Cristian Montano but his effort was blocked well by Terence Vancooten.
An even game up to the 27 minute mark, Tom Pett the latest Stevenage player to have a crack at goal but his shot was deflected on its way into Brown’s gloves. The visitors were dangerous on the break and almost produced a well worked goal but Elliot Osborne’s effort was well wide of the goal on 35 minutes. Danny Newton was given the ball after a lapse of concentration at the back but he scuffed his shot wide of Brown’s near post with five minutes left in the first half.
Luke Joyce was replaced deep into first half stoppage time with a slight knock by Scott Burgess. Stevenage were awarded another free kick just before the half. Martin over it again but Tom Conlon jumped high and blocked the free kick with his face just before the half time whistle.
The second half became very scrappy and neither side were able to create and clear-cut chances. Montano ran onto a loose ball inside the area with 73 minutes played but his shot sailed well over the bar. You felt this game needed a bit of magic to win the game for either side, Vale almost got that on 82 minutes with a volley from Burgess that went inches wide of the post.
The Valiants really turned it on in the last ten minutes as Rodney went close to a winner. Taylor found him in the area and his first-time shot was deflected wide for a corner. But Vale couldn’t get a winner and score remained goalless. Clarke will be looking for his first win in charge as we host Cambridge United this Saturday.
Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Crookes, Joyce (45+3’ Burgess), Legge, Smith, Conlon, Montano, Taylor, Rodney (84’ Guthrie), Swan (68’ Cullen)
Stevenage: Cumming, Cuthbert, Osborne, Newton, Hutton (65’ Coker), Vancooten, List, Pett, Aitchison (84’ Stevens), Martin, Lines