The Valiants suffer defeat against ten-man Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
Jon Brady made five changes from Wednesday’s 1-0 loss in Cardiff, as Onel Hernandez and Ben Waine were amongst the returning players, as we continued our busy schedule with a trip to Devon.
The hosts took the lead in the second minute when former Vale striker Lorent Tolaj broke free and split the Vale defence with a through ball that found Bim Pepple, who raced onto it and slotted past the on-rushing Joe Gauci.
Two minutes later, Plymouth were reduced to ten men after a moment of madness from their goalkeeper, Conor Hazard. Onel Hernandez's through ball was just out the reach of Martin Sherif and Hazard raced off his line to clear the danger, but the ball bounced over his head and he was forced to punch the ball away. However, he was well outside the area and was subsequently sent off for a deliberate handball.
The sending off allowed Vale to grow into the game and deservedly level the scores in the 13th minute. A well-worked short corner down the left side gave Jordan Shipley time to hang up a cross towards the back post that was powerfully headed home by an unmarked Connor Hall, bringing the Vale level.
The hosts reacted well after conceding and came inches away from regaining the lead in the 26th minute when a cross from the right fell kindly to Lorent Tolaj, who looked to find the top corner with a bicycle kick, but it was just wide of the post.
On the half-hour mark, Jordan Shipley's corner was cleared, but it fell back to the Vale midfielder, who fired a low effort towards goal, but it was well saved by Ashby-Hammond. Vale recycled the move and Ryan Croasdale arrowed an effort towards the bottom corner, but Ashby-Hammond was equal to it as he tipped it around the post.
In the second half, the hosts took an early lead as they went ahead two minutes after the break. Bim Pepple won the ball in midfield and drove at the Vale defence before finding the bottom corner with a well-placed low strike that clipped the inside of the post and nestled in the back of the net.
Ten minutes after regaining the lead, Argyle came close to adding a third as Owen Dale cut inside from the left before and Tolaj, who did well to work space for a shot that took a wicked deflection and looped over Gauci, but thankfully for Vale fell the wrong side of the post.
On the hour mark, Martin Sherif cut inside from the left side and fired an effort towards goal, but it was comfortable for Luca Ashby-Hammond in the Plymouth goal.
Despite being a man down, the hosts were dominating play and had another good opportunity to double their lead in the 68th minute. Bim Pepple came close to completing his hat-trick as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area before aiming a volley towards the top corner, but it whistled over the agonisingly over the crossbar.
Plymouth had seen the game out well and not really allowed Vale to create anything of note in the second half. As the clock ticked down and we entered injury time, Vale did manufacture a half chance as Hernandez found Grant Ward on the edge of the area, who struck a low effort towards which took a big deflection and went just wide of the bottom corner.
TEAM NEWS
Plymouth Argyle: Conor Hazard, Mattias Ross, Joe Edwards ©, Lorent Tolaj, Alex Mitchell, Caleb Watts (Luca Ashby-Hammond 4’), Malachi Boateng, Bim Pepple (Brenden Wiredu 73’), Ronan Curtis (Matty Sorinola 65’), Owen Dale, Wes Harding.
Subs not used: Julio Pleguezuelo, Xavier Amaechi, Owen Oseni, Bradley Ibrahim.
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Jaheim Headley (Dajaune Brown 80’), Connor Hall (Liam Gordon 45’), Jordan Gabriel, Ethon Archer (George Hall 71’), Ryan Croasdale (Rhys Walters 56’), Ben Waine, Martin Sherif, Cameron Humphreys, Jordan Shipley (Grant Ward 56’), Onel Hernandez.
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Tyler Magloire.