Darren Moore made nine changes from his sides league draw with Cardiff City last week which included a full debut for Jordan Gabriel who returned to his former club.
The game took a while to get going with both sides trying to get a feel for the ball. There were a few half chances but neither side could muster a shot on target.
Vale got into good areas but were limited to shots from range, Jack Shorrock and Ben Waine both saw efforts blocked by Blackpool defenders.
Arguably the best chance of the first half came on the stroke of half time when the hosts were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area. Lee Evans stepped up curled his free-kick over the wall but he couldn’t get it down in time and it narrowly went over the crossbar.
In the second half the hosts flew out the blocks and had the game’s first shot on target. After CJ Hamilton’s effort from the left was blocked, the ball eventually fell to Jordan Brown who fired a long-range effort towards goal but Marko Marosi was on hand to tip the effort away to safety.
After a rather dull first half, the game had suddenly kicked into gear. Vale broke forward and after a blocked effort fell to Jayden Stockley down the right side, he cut inside before blazing over with his left foot.
Vale were pushing for the opener and came close again in the 54th when Jordan Gabriel’s deep cross found Stockley at the back post, but he couldn’t get enough on his first-time effort from close range and ball trickled wide.
With twenty-five minutes to go Vale came close again as Shipley’s corner from the right was met by Ben Heneghan at the back post who headed straight at Bailey Peacock-Farrell before the ball was eventually cleared by the hosts.
The game was opening up and the hosts won the ball on halfway and looked to catch Vale on the counterattack. Niall Ennis drove into the Vale box and cut inside onto his right foot before dragging a low effort into the side netting from a tight angle.
With just under twenty minutes remaining, Darren Moore rolled the dice and handed new signing Mo Faal his Vale debut and he took just five minutes to make an instant impact for the Valiants. Jordan Shipley’s corner from the left was powerfully headed home at the back post by Vale’s new forward who wheeled away to the travelling Valiants who were in raptures.
After going a goal behind, The hosts pushed for a leveller. Lee Evans fired an effort over the crossbar from the edge of the box which summed up the night his side who came close but never really tested the Vale keeper.
Despite six minutes of injury time, Vale stood firm and were good value for their victory on the North West Coast. The draw for the Second Round of the Carabao Cup is tomorrow evening (Wed 13th)
Blackpool: Bailey Peacock- Farrell, Olly Casey, Jordan Brown (Andy Lyons 85’), Lee Evans, George Honeyman ©, Tom Bloxham (Malcolm Ebiowei 62’), Dale Taylor (Niall Ennis 62’), Michael Ihiekwe, CJ Hamilton (Ashley Fletcher 62’), Emil Hansson (Ryan Finnigan 73’)
Subs not used: Franco Ravizzoli, Zac Ashworth, Kylian Kouassi, Spencer Knight
Port Vale: Marko Marosi, Ben Heneghan ©, Jordan Gabriel (James Plant 61’), Jayden Stockley, Rhys Walters (Ryan Croasdale 56’), Ben Waine, Rico Richards (Mo Faal
71’), Jack Shorrock (Liam Gordon 56’), Kyle John (Jesse Debrah 56’), Cameron Humphreys. Jordan Shipley.
Subs not used: Joe Gauci, Mitch Clark, George Byers, Ronan Curtis.