The Valiants hold out for victory as a first-half goal sees them beat Rotherham United 1-0 at Vale Park.
A fine strike from Ryan Croasdale on his return to the side, six minutes into the game, was all that separated the two sides on Tuesday evening.
Joe Gauci was forced to make a few smart saves in the second half, but the Valiants held out for the win.
The gaffer made three changes following Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea. Ethon Archer, George Hall and Ryan Croasdale came into the eleven, replacing Ben Waine, Connor Hall and Funso Ojo.
The Valiants got the game underway at Vale Park and took the lead with just over five minutes played! A defensive mix-up from Rotherham allowed Ethon Archer to get a shot away before his blocked effort fell to Ryan Croasdale on the edge of the box. Croasdale hit the ball sweetly on the volley and found the bottom corner, leaving the keeper with no chance.
The visitors had an opportunity to hit back shortly after the opening goal as Sam Nombe was played through on goal, but Joe Gauci stood tall and denied the striker with a smart save.
Vale had a chance to double their lead with half an hour on the clock. A ball through the heart of the Rotherham defence from Ethon Archer found Martin Sheriff, and the striker took a touch away from the defender before firing an effort over the bar.
With half-time fast approaching, Jon Brady’s side came within inches of going into the break with a two-goal advantage. George Hall found himself bearing down on goal and he took the ball past the keeper but couldn’t get his shot on target from a tight angle.
The second half began with both teams creating chances, but the biggest one fell the way of the Millers. A ball into the Vale box ricocheted to Duncan Whatmore around twelve yards out, who hit the ball first time. However, his effort trickled wide of Gauci’s left post.
Rotherham came mightily close to levelling the scores with just over an hour played. Another ball into the Vale box was headed back where it came from by Gabriele Biancheri, before Sam Nombe fired a header towards goal that was straight down the throat of the grateful Joe Gauci.
After withstanding some pressure from the visitors, Jayden Stockley almost gave Vale that all-important second goal. A corner into the box from the right was nodded towards the far post by Vale’s number nine, but his attempt kissed the base of the post and went behind for a goal kick.
Despite a late effort from Sam Nombe that went close to levelling the scores, the Valiants held on for all three points.
Team News
Port Vale: Gauci, Gabriel, Garrity (C), Archer (Waine 60’), Walters, Gordon (Hall 87’), Croasdale (Stockley 60’), Sherif (Gray 60’), John, Humphreys, Hall (Campbell 87’)
Unused Subs: Amos, Shipley
Rotherham United: Cann, Rafferty (C) (Hall 71’), Jules, Kelly, James, Nombe, Martha (Biancheri 63’), Baptiste, Benson, Watmore (Holmes 76’), Gray
Unused Subs: Childs, Douglas, Cover, Ayres
