Vale ended 2023 with a bang after running out 3-0 winners against Blackpool at Vale Park.
Andy Crosby made five changes to his side. There were places in the starting XI for James Wilson, Uche Ikpeazu, Nathan Smith and academy products Jack Shorrock and Ben Lomax who both made their first league starts for the club.
The first half chance of the game fell to the aforementioned Ikpeazu, who turned on the edge of the box before firing over the crossbar after ten minutes.
Fifteen minutes into the game Karamoko Dembele played an exquisite ball in-behind to find Jordan Rhodes but the angle was tight and all he could do was cross into the arms of Connor Ripley.
The game then slowed down with neither side really taking control of the game. On the half hour mark Albie Morgan took aim with a speculative effort from 25 yards but it was well over the bar and no trouble for Ripley in the Vale goal.
Despite the lull in the game, Vale went ahead in the 39th minute when Ethan Chislett bought the ball over halfway and found James Wilson 30 yards out, the Vale forward turned and found Ben Garrity in acres of the space on the edge of the box. Garrity bared down in goal and slotted past the onrushing keeper to give a Vale the lead and grab his eighth goal of the season.
After going ahead, Vale had their tails up looked to double their lead before the break. Uche Ikpeazu won the ball in midfield and muscled his way towards goal before unleashing a rocket of a strike that was well tipped over from Grimshaw.
Vale started the second half the brighter of the sides and following Chislett’s freekick from the left Jack Shorrock came close. Blackpool failed to clear the freekick and the ball fell to Shorrock 12 yards out, but his effort was saved by Grimshaw at the second attempt.
Five minutes later the visitors had a chance of their own when a low cross found first half substitute Kyle Josephs in the box, but his effort was straight at Ripley who made a smart save down low to keep the scores level.
This save proved critical as Vale doubled their lead just six minutes later. Chislett broke into the Blackpool half before being tackled on the edge of the box. James Wilson picked up the pieces and fired an effort towards goal, his strike took a deflection and looped over the Blackpool keeper who was helpless. What a way for Wilson to celebrate his new contract at the club!
In the 62nd minute Blackpool had arguably their best chance of the game. A cross from the right caused chaos in the Vale box and it fell to Oilver Casey who fired straight down the throat of Ripley from six yards out.
Vale countered following this attack, Jack Shorrock beat his man and raced into the Blackpool half before finding Ikpeazu who saw his deflected strike comfortably smothered by the keeper.
Vale added a third with ten minutes to go when Nathan Smith was on hand to bundle the ball over the line from close range following Ethan Chislett’s floated corner from the right side.
The confidence was flowing, so much so that Ryan Loft took aim from 25 yards but his effort was comfortably held by Grimshaw.
The referee blew his final whistle and ended what was a complete performance from the Vale who end 2023 on a high after a 3-0 victory at Vale Park.
Port Vale | Connor Ripley, Nathan Smith ©, Ben Garrity, Ethan Chislett, Alfie Devine, Uche Ikpeazu (Bayley Dipepa 70’), Jason Lowe, Jack Shorrock (Connor Grant 77’) Jesse Debrah, James Wilson (Ryan Loft 64’), Ben Lomax
Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Kofi Balmer, Alex Iacovitti, Rhys Walters,
Blackpool | Daniel Grimshaw, Callum Connolly, James Husband, Oliver Norburn © (Matty Virtue 45’), Albie Morgan, Karamoko Dembele, Jordan Rhodes, Jake Beesley (Kyle Josephs 43), Oliver Casey, CJ Hamilton, Dom Thompson (Owen Dale 61’)
Subs not used: Richard O’Donnell, Sonny Carey,, Douglas Tharme, Andy Lyons