Match Report | Everton 2-1 Port Vale
Ruari Paton becomes the first player to score past Everton in the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium as Darren Moore’s Valiants lose narrowly to Premier League opposition in our latest pre-season outing.
The Vale took the lead inside the second minute when a lovely one-touch move between Waine, Tolaj and Paton resulted in the latter side-footing past Pickford from just inside the area.
Paton came close to adding his second of the game with twenty minutes on the clock when he did well to bring down a ball over the top and outmuscle the defender before curling towards goal from around 20 yards, but Pickford was equal to it and parried out for a Vale corner.
Everton were at near full-strength in the first half, but had to be patient for their first half-chance of the game came when Ndiaye got on the end of a looped free kick into the box, but could only scuff his effort past Marosi’s left-hand post.
Another sweeping one-touch move from Vale almost resulted in the second goal of the game when the bell found its way to Waine on the left of the box, but his curling effort went just past Pickford’s left-hand post.
HALF TIME: Everton 0-1 Port Vale
The hosts had a good chance to level up the scores when Ndiaye was found inside the area with a low cross, but his effort went harmlessly wide of goal.
Just minutes later, Vale came agonisingly close to doubling their lead when Stockley got on the end of Byers’ cross from the right, but Travers was on hand with a fantastic reflex to keep the forward out and then recovered quickly to deny Richards from close-range from the rebound.
The scores were levelled when Alcaraz picked up the ball just outside the Vale area and curled a pinpoint effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
Minutes later, Everton were then awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal. Garner stepped up to emphatically smash the ball into the top corner from range to put the hosts ahead.
FULL TIME: Everton 2-1 Port Vale
Thank you to all at Everton FC for inviting us to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for this afternoon’s pre-season friendly and best of luck for your upcoming Premier League campaign.
Port Vale First Half XI
Marko Marosi, Mitch Clark, Kyle John, Cameron Humphreys, Connor Hall, Jaheim Headley, Funso Ojo, Jordan Shipley, Ruari Paton, Lorent Tolaj, Ben Waine
Port Vale Second Half XI
Trialist A, Ryan Croasdale, Rico Richards, George Byers, Sam Hart, Jayden Stockley, Jesse Debrah, James Plant, Rhys Walters, Ben Heneghan, Liam Gordon
