Vale suffer heaviest defeat of the season at the hands of Huddersfield Town at the Accu Stadium.
Darren Moore made three changes from his side following last weekend’s defeat, which included a return to the side for both George Byers and Cameron Humphreys, who returned from their respective injuries.
Vale had the first chance of the game inside the first minute when Jaheim Headley’s low cross from the left was put wide by Ben Waine, who saw his effort at the near post go the wrong side of the post.
Vale’s bright opening to the game didn’t last long as the hosts took the lead in the 5th minute. Leo Castledine picked up the ball on halfway, he was then allowed space and time to drive into the box before slotting past Ben Amos in the Vale goal to give Huddersfield an early lead.
The hosts' lead was doubled ten minutes later. Marcus Harness’ low free-kick from the left side was turned home at the near post by Ryan Ledson, who was unmarked six yards out.
A third goal almost came just before the half-hour mark. A corner from the left was cleared as far as Lyndon Gooch on the edge of the box, who took aim with a low effort, but it was saved by Amos. The rebound then fell to Alfie May, but his close-range effort was once again saved by Amos, who recovered well.
Huddersfield’s pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when a third goal was added to their tally. Much like the first goal, Castledine was allowed space to drive into the box before taking aim. His low effort was saved by Amos, but pushed into the path of Bojan Radulovic, who tapped home from close range to all but seal the points for the hosts.
Three minutes before the break, Alfie May came close to adding his second goal of the afternoon. Castledine’s free-kick from the right side was flicked goalwards by May, but his header was saved by Amos, who was at full stretch to turn the effort round the post. From the following corner, the ball fell to Gooch again, but his low effort whistled past the post.
The Vale stopper was once again called into action to make a crucial save just before the break. Marcus Harness broke down the right side before getting to the byline and cutting back to Lyndon Gooch, who saw his low effort saved comfortably.
The second half began much like the first, with the visitors on top and controlling the possession. They added a fourth goal five minutes into the half. Sean Roughan had the ball on the edge of the area, and he found the overlapping run of Leo Castledine down the left side. The midfielder finished excellently with a curled finish into the far corner to add his second goal of the game.
A fifth goal came just before the hour mark. Alfie May and Radulovic exchanged passes on the edge of the box before Alfie May curled an effort into the top corner, leaving Ben Amos with no chance in the Vale goal.
TEAM NEWS
Huddersfield Town: Lee Nicholls, Murray Wallace, Ryan Ledson (David Kasumu 76’), Joe Low, Lynden Gooch Lasse Sorensen 67’), Marcus Harness, Radinio Balker (Ruben Rooksen 67’), Sean Roughan, Leo Castledine (Cameron Ashia 67’), Bojan Radulovic (Dion Charles 60’), Alfie May
Subs not used: Owen Goodman, Joe Taylor.
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Mitch Clark, Jaheim Headley, Ben Heneghan, George Byers ©, Rhys Walters, Ben Waine, Jesse Debrah, Cameron Humphreys, George Hall (Jordan Shipley 63’), Devante Cole (Ryan Croasdale 63’)
Subs not used: Joe Gauci, Dajaune Brown, Ronan Curtis, Mo Faal
