Two second-half goals from Jordan Gabriel and Ryan Croasdale earn the Valiants a win on the road at Barnsley.
Darren Moore made five changes from our midweek fixture against Arsenal, which included returns to the side for Ben Garrity, George Byers and Devante Cole.
The game started at a frantic tempo with both sides having opportunities inside the first ten minutes. The hosts had their first effort of the game when Josh Earl headed wide from close range following a corner from the right. Moments later, the Valiants had their first effort of the game as Devante Cole broke the offside trap and forced a good save from Murphy Cooper in the Tykes goal, who raced off his line to prevent the Vale forward.
Vale came close again in the 9th minute. After good play on the edge of the box, Jaheim Headley found space to take aim, but his effort was tipped over the bar by a full-stretch save from Cooper.
Darren Moore’s side looked the more likely to take the lead and came close again three minutes later. Jordan Shipley’s in-swinging free kick was met at the back post by Jesse Debrah, but he couldn’t get enough on his heade,r and it went wide of the goal.
After a hectic start, the game slowed down, and the hosts began to grow into the game. Five minutes before the break, Barnsley came close to taking the lead as David McGoldrick drove into the box before flashing an effort across the face of the goal from the right side of the area.
At the break, the game was goalless, but it was the Valiants who had the better of the opportunities.
The hosts made a brighter start to the second half and had the first opportunity just two minutes in. Luca Connell played a nice ball into the feet of McGoldrick, who drove towards goal before firing wide with a low effort.
Ten minutes later, they had another good opportunity when Caylan Vickers cut inside from the left before striking an effort into the side netting from just inside the area.
On the hour mark, Vale had an excellent opportunity to take the lead. Jaheim Headley was set free down the left and his low cross evaded Devante Cole but fell to Jordan Gabriel, who saw his first-time effort saved at the second attempt by Murphy Cooper in the Barnsley goal.
Moments later, Devante Cole almost grabbed a goal against his former employers when he broke free of the Barnsley backline before getting into the box and taking aim, but Jack Shepard made an excellent last-ditch block to prevent the Vale forward.
The Valiants had another great opportunity two minutes later when Devante Cole's low cross found Dajaune Brown, but his low effort was saved by Cooper, before the rebound was also saved, and then Ben Garrity blazed over the crossbar from close range.
Vale’s pressure finally paid off in the 64th minute when the deadlock was broken. Dajaune Brown raced down the left side before getting into the box and poking past the on-rushing keeper, and there was Jordan Gabriel to make sure it was going in as he slammed home from close range to deservedly give his side the lead at Oakwell.
Vale were good value for their lead and came close to adding a second five minutes later. Jordan Gabriel's long throw was flicked on by Jesse Debrah into the path of Devante Cole, who looked to divert the ball towards goal, but he couldn’t get enough on it, and Murphy Cooper made a good save down low.
Vale, who had been excellent in this second half, had a great opportunity to double the lead five minutes from time. Cole won the ball in the attacking third before taking on his man and firing a low effort towards goal, but once again Murphy Cooper was there to make an excellent save down low to his right to turn it around the post and once again deny the former Barnsley man.
The elusive second goal came two minutes from time when second-half substitute Ryan Croasdale arrowed a low effort into the bottom corner from just outside the area. The move was started by Croasdale, who won the ball on halfway before exchanging passes with George Hall and finishing well to put the icing on the cake on what was an excellent away performance from the Valiant,s who continued their winning form in the league.
TEAM NEWS
Barnsley: Murphy Cooper, Jack Shepard, Caylan Vickers (Neil Farrugia 66’), Adam Phillips, David McGoldrick, Nathanael Ogbeta, Tenai Watson, Jonathan Bland (Jonathan Russell 78), Josh Earl, Davis Keillor-Dunn (Reyes Cleary 67’), Luca Connell ©
Subs not used: Keiren Flavell, Mael De Gevigney, Jake Rooney, Vimal Yoganathan
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Jaheim Headley, Connor Hall, Jordan Gabriel (Ben Heneghan 84’), George Byers, Ben Garrity ©, Dajaune Brown (George Hall 71’), Jesse Debrah, Cameron Humphreys, Jordan Shipley (Ryan Croasdale 71’), Devante Cole (Ronan Curtis 90+2’)
Subs not used: Marko Marosi, Ruari Paton, Mo Faal
