The Valiants made the short trip to Greater Manchester to take on Altrincham in our final pre-season outing in preparation of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League One season.
The hosts started brightly and looked to take the lead in the tenth minute when a neat move on the left found Lewis Banks, but he could only drag his shot wide from just outside of the Vale area.
Four minutes later, Altrincham had a good chance to take the lead when Reddin’s cross from the right was met by the head of Ward, but his header from 8-yards-out flew over the Vale crossbar.
Altrincham threatened to score with 33 minutes on the clock when Gale played Reddin in on goal. The winger lined up an effort from just inside the area, which looked to be heading for the bottom corner, but was met by a terrific sliding block from Sam Hart, who cleared for a corner.
Jayden Stockley received the first booking of the evening after 40 minutes following a robust challenge for a header on the Vale left, which the referee deemed to have been too strong for his liking.
Altrincham took the lead a minute before the break when Keaton Ward took aim from 18 yards out and curled into the side-netting of the Vale goal, low to the ‘keeper’s right.
HALF TIME: Altrincham 1-0 Port Vale
The Gaffer made one change at the break which saw Rico Richards introduced in place of Trialist B.
Altrincham started brightly and threatened to double their lead as Ward rode a challenge down the Vale left and cut inside into the area, looking to add to his tally for the evening, but the Vale’s trialist ‘keeper stood up strong to deny the forward.
A quick move down the left resulted in Croasdale finding Kyle John to the right of centre. The defender fired a low shot from range, in search of the equaliser, but it sailed just wide of Hutchinson’s goal.
Vale had a good chance to level up the scores when Richards broke away down the right and squared the ball to Shipley, but his effort, under pressure, was comfortable for Hutchinson.
The Valiants levelled up the scores with 70 minutes on the clock when a Rico Richards cross from the left was met by a towering header from Ben Heneghan, who expertly guided the ball past Hutchinson and into the bottom corner.
James Plant almost sealed the win for Darren Moore’s side late on when Shorrock’s corner found the wing-back on the edge of the area. Plant struck the ball on the half-volley and almost found the top corner, but it went agonizingly wide of goal.
FULL TIME: Altrincham 1-1 Port Vale
Thank you to Altrincham for hosting us this evening and best of luck for the upcoming campaign!
ATT: 1,333 (379 Valiants)
Port Vale Starting Lineup
Trialist A, Ben Heneghan, Liam Gordon, Jayden Stockley (55’ Trialist C), Trialist B (45’ Richards), Ryan Croasdale, Jordan Shipley (72’ Shorrock), James Plant, Kyle John (55’ Lomax), Rhys Walters, Sam Hart
SUBS: Arron Davies, Trialist C, Joe Hunter, Tomassi Wara, Jack Shorrock, Rico Richards, Ben Lomax
Altrincham Starting Lineup
Luke Hutchinson (72’ Fallon), Lewis Banks, Lewis Baines (40’ Reed), Trialist A (65’ Bailey), Isaac Marriott (60’ Raymond), Kahrel Reddin, Tom Crawford, James Gale (60’ Knowles), Keaton Ward (60’ Kosylo), Olly Crankshaw (45’ Kirk), Tylor Golden
SUBS: Sam Reed, Kimmy Knowles, Elliot Osborne, Remi Raymond, Joel Bailey, Charlie Kirk, Matty Kosylo, Louis Fallon
