Jasper Moon’s second-half header helps Vale to victory at Bloomfield Road as the Valiants run out 1-0 winners against Blackpool
The hosts had the game's first chance in the 10th minute. Dale Taylor did well to bring down an over-the-top ball with a good first touch that bought him some space, before striking an effort towards goal, but Lewis Montsma did well to clear the danger with a sliding block.
The Vale backline was called into action soon after as Taylor found himself in behind, but Cameron Humphreys got across quickly to once again deny the Blackpool forward with another good block.
Dale Taylor was denied again in the 20th minute when he got on the end of a well-placed through-ball but couldn’t beat Jackson Smith, who made a good save with his legs. Vale failed to clear the ball and Taylor found himself with space on the edge of the area, but his weak effort was easy for Smith, who saved comfortably.
Ten minutes before the break, Taylor broke the offside trap and found himself through on goal, but once again he was denied by the legs of Smith, who rushed off his line to make another excellent save.
Moments later, the hosts came close again as Josh Bowler cut inside from the left before dragging an effort wide of the near post.
Three minutes before the break, Vale had a good opportunity to take the lead as George Byers’ free-kick was poked goalwards by George Hall, but it trickled wide of the post.
Eight minutes after the break, Vale came close to taking the lead. After working the ball nicely down the right side, Jordan Gabriel found George Hall with a low cross, but the Vale winger couldn’t direct his first-time effort goalwards.
Twenty-Five minutes from time, Blackpool had their first effort of the second half as Ilmari Niskanen got down the right side before cutting back from the byline; his low cross was half cleared by Vale but the loose ball fell to Dale Taylor who was once again thwarted by a block from the Vale backline.
Five minutes later the hosts came close again as Dale Taylor lost the ball on the edge of the box but the loose ball fell to Karoy Anderson who looked to curl an effort into the bottom corner, but Mason Terry was equal to it and he tipped it around the post.
Blackpool came inches away from taking the lead in the 80th minute. Niskanen’s deep cross from the right was headed back across goal by Theo Upton, to the path of Kylion Kouassi, but Kyle John got there in the nick of time to divert the ball behind the post and keep the scores level.
The Valiants took the lead with five minutes remaining when Kyle Dempsey’s corner from the left was met with a powerful header from Jasper Moon, who left the Blackpool keeper with no chance.
TEAM NEWS:
Blackpool: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Zac Ashworth, Olly Casey (Andy Lyons 66’), Jordan Brown (Spencer Knight 76’), Niall Ennis (Kylian Kouassi 61’), Josh Bowler (CJ Hamilton 61’), Hayden Coulson, Karoy Anderson © (, Oli Hunter 72’), Dale Taylor (Billy Whaite 80’), Ilmari Niskanen, Jordan Williams (Theo Upton 72’)
Subs not used: Franco Ravizzoli, Charlie Brier, Andy Lyon, George Elder, Jack Richardson
Port Vale: Jackson Smith (Mason Terry 45’), Jaheim Headley (Aaron McGowan 76’), Jordan Gabriel (Kyle John 76’), George Byers (Ryan Croasdale 66’), Mo Faal (Trialist A 76’), Liam Gordon (Ben Waine 66’), Lewis Montsma (Connor Hall 66’), Cameron Humphreys (Jasper Moon 68’), George Hall (Onel Hernandez 61’), Max Watters (Kyle Dempsey 45’), Rhys Walters (Charlie Bussell 86’)
Subs not used: Keaton Mosley.
