The points were shared as Port Vale draw 0-0 with Crewe Alexandra at Vale Park
Jon Brady made four changes to last weekend’s side as Ben Garrity, Connor Hall & Ben Waine all made their first starts of the season
The Visitors had the game's first opportunity as Jordan Gibson got into the box before pulling the trigger, but his low effort was well saved by Jackson Smith at his near post.
Vale’s first chance of note came in the ninth minute when Oli Lynch rose highest to meet Connor Hall’s cross, but his header was straight at Tom Booth in the Crewe goal.
After early chances for both sides, the game then went into a lull with both sides keeping the ball nicely and restricting each other to efforts from range. After a free-kick was cleared, the ball fell kindly to Jordan Gabriel on the edge of the area, who struck a first-time effort agonisingly wide of the upright. Then ten minutes later, Reece Hutchinson tried his luck from range, but it was well over the crossbar.
Three minutes before the break, Vale had a great chance to take the lead as Oli Lynch won the ball back in the final third before he played the ball out wide to Onel Hernandez who drove into the box before striking a long range effort straight at Tom Booth who made a great intial save, the rebound then cannoned off Lynch who knew nothing about it and it went behind for a goalkick.
Vale had another excellent chance in first half added time when Kyle Dempsey’s whipped free-kick was met by Connor Hall, who couldn't keep his header down and it went well over the bar.
Onel Hernandez was one of Vale’s bright sparks in the first half, and he almost set up the opening goal five minutes after the break. After showing good feet down the right side, the Cuban winger sent in a cross that was met by Ben Garrity at the back post, but his header went well over the crossbar.
Vale came close again just before the hour mark when Kyle Dempsey’s cross looked destined for Ben Waine to head home, but Lewis Billington recovered well and made a good defensive header to clear the danger.
After making a good defensive intervention, Billington came close to giving his side the lead at the other end when a clearance fell kindly to him on the edge of the area, but his long-range effort went wide.
Moments later, Crewe had their best opportunity for the game when Josh March broke the offside trap and got on the end of a through-ball before getting into the area and crashing an effort into the side netting from the left side of the box.
Vale’s best chance of the second half came fifteen minutes from time and once again Onel Hernandez was heavily involved. The Vale managed to get past two Crewe players as he cut inside before striking a low effort towards the near post, but Booth was equal to it and he made another good save.
Five minutes from time a free-kick from the left side was cleared as far as Mickey Demetriou, who struck a first-time effort that looked destined for the bottom corner, but it struck his own man as Lewis Billington couldn't get out of the way quickly enough and the danger was cleared.
As the game continued to be a cagey affair, both sides had opportunities to snatch all three points in added time. Demetriou came close again as he met a free-kick, but his header was simple for Jackson Smith. Up the other end, Vale were inches away from a winner when Ryan Croasdale raced clear of the offside trap and beat Tom Booth to a throughball, but his poked effort lacked power, and it was cleared off the line and away to safety.
TEAM NEWS:
Port Vale: Jackson Smith, Jordan Gabriel, Ben Garrity © (Ryan Croasdale 63’), Kyle Dempsey, Onel Hernandez, Oli Lynch (Jaheim Headley 70’), Liam Gordon, Ben Waine (Tyreece Simpson 70’), Cam Humphreys, Rhys Walters (Matty Craig 88’).
Subs not used: Mason Terry, Aaron McGowan, Lewis Monstma.
Crewe Alexandra: Tom Booth, Lewis Billington, Reece Hutchinson, Mickey Demetriou © (Conor Thomas 90+4’), Luke Offord, Jack Lankester (Joe White 78’), Josh March (Charlie McNeill 87’), Joel Tabiner (Adrien Thibaut 87’), Josh Stephenson, Jordan Gibson (Calum Agius 78’), Matus Holicek.
Subs not used: Ian Lawlor, Kyle Ure.