Two goals in each half succumb Vale to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Bolton Wanderers at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Darren Moore made three changes from last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Maldon & Tiptree as his side made the trip to a Bolton Wanderers side who were looking to make it seven wins in a row at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Vale started brightly and had a succession of corners inside the first few minutes of the game, which almost led to a goal. Marvin Johnson’s in-swinging delivery was met by George Byers, who rose highest, but his header was straight at Teddy Sharman-Lowe in the Bolton goal.
In the 15th minute, Kyle John showed great desire to run onto a loose ball and keep it in play on the Bolton by-line. He managed to work the ball to Devante Cole, who hit the side netting with his acrobatic effort.
Vale were on top and forced Sharman-Lowe into two excellent saves. Johnson’s delivery from the left was met by Connor Hall, who saw his header tipped round the post by the Bolton stopper. Moments later, Hall met Ben Garrity’s cross from the right with a downward header that looked destined for the bottom corner, but Sharman-Lowe was once again on hand to save well.
In the 22nd minute, the hosts had their first effort of the game as Max Conway got down the left side before cutting back to Ibrahim Cissoko who blazed a curled effort well over Joe Gauci’s goal.
The hosts took the lead on the half-hour mark Cissoko sent a low ball into the box that was held up nicely by Mason Burstow who rolled it to Amario Cozier-Duberry, who fired a low effort into the back of the net to put his side ahead.
Five minutes later, the hosts' lead was doubled when a corner from the left was cleared by Connor Hall as far as Cozier-Duberry who played it inside to Xavier Simons, who found the bottom corner with a low effort from the right side of the area.
Five minutes before the break, Cozier-Duberry was allowed the drive into the box before taking aim, but his low effort was well saved by Gauci who got down quickly to his right side. Three minutes later, Gauci made another good save as he tipped over Josh Sheehan’s rasping strike from the edge of the box.
Cozier-Duberry was proving to be a real threat down the right side. The on-loan Brighton winger had the first effort of the second half as he cut inside from the right before forcing a good save from Gauci with a low effort from a tight angle.
Twenty-five minutes from time, Cozier-Duberry got his second goal of the game. The hosts won the ball in the final third before playing a through ball to the winger who drove into the box before striking an effort into the roof of the net from close range to seal the points for his side.
A fourth goal was added five minutes later, Cozier-Duberry, who had been excellent for his side, got to the byline and cut the ball back to Kyle Dempsey, who swept home with a neat finish from 12 yards to put the icing on the cake.
Three minutes from time, the hosts had a chance to add a fifth when Marcus Forss broke the offside trap and found himself in-behind, but his effort from just inside the area bobbled wide of the upright.
TEAM NEWS
Bolton Wanderers: Teddy Sharman Lowe, Xavier Simons (Jordi Osei-Tutu 60’), George Johnston, Josh Sheehan, Joel Randall (Kyle Dempsey 60’), Eoin Toal ©, Amario Cozier-Duberry (Marcus Forss 77’), Ibrahim Cissoko (Aaron Morley 60’), Max Conway, Cyrus Christie, Mason Burstow (Sam Dalby 72)’
Subs not used: Tyler Miller, Chris Forino
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Jaheim Headley (Ronan Curtis 45), Connor Hall, George Byers (George Hall 45’), Ben Garrity ©, Rhys Walters (Ryan Croasdale 63’), Jesse Debrah, Kyle John (Ruari Paton 63’), Cameron Humphreys, Marvin Johnson, Devante Cole
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Ben Heneghan, Jayden Stockley
