Port Vale are held to a 1-1 draw to Luton Town at Vale Park on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors took the lead just five minutes into the contest, thanks to a tap-in from Nahki Wells. However, Vale came back fighting and got the equalising goal of the game on the half-hour mark.
Following Tuesday’s win away at Northampton, the gaffer made four changes to his starting eleven. Jordan Gabriel, Rhys Walters, Liam Gordon and Ben Waine came into the eleven, replacing Ben Heneghan, Eli Campbell, Ethon Archer and Martin Sherif.
The Valiants got the game underway in Burslem and had the first shot on target of the clash. George Hall picked up a loose ball in midfield and drove towards goal before getting a shot away that was caught by Luton keeper Josh Keeley.
However, just moments later the visitors opened the scoring. Emilio Lawrence played a ball across the six-yard box that was poked home by Nakhi Wells in front of the travelling Hatters.
Despite being a goal behind, Vale were creating chances and had two in the space of seconds. Firstly, a Rhys Walters shot from the edge of the box was blocked by a Town defender, and then Jordan Gabriel saw his rebounded effort blocked behind.
With just over twenty minutes played, Vale came close again. A free kick twenty-five yards from goal was struck by George Hall, but his effort went inches wide of the keeper's right post.
Shortly after this, the Valiants got their deserved equaliser. A delicate ball from George Hall was latched onto by Ben Waine, and the New Zealand international made no mistake in finishing into the bottom corner.
Following two minutes of added time, the referee brought what was a great contest to a close.
Following a quiet spell in the game, Jayden Stockley came close to giving Vale the lead. A free kick into the box from the left was met by Vale’s number nine, but his powerful header was tipped over the bar by Josh Keeley.
With five minutes left of the game to play, the game sprang into life with both teams creating chances. Luton had the first through Al Hamadi, who forced Gauci into a low save, and then Martin Sherif forced Josh Keeley into a top save to prevent Vale taking the lead.
Team News:
Port Vale: Gauci, Hall, Gabriel, Stockley (Gray 65’), Walters (Shipley 77’) , Ojo, Gordon, Waine, John ©, Humphreys, Hall (Sherif 77’)
Unused Subs: Amos, Headley, Ward, Magloire
Luton Town: Keeley, Naismith ©, Walsh (Van Den Berg 70’), Lonwijk (Odoffin 80’), Clark, Wells (Al Hamadi 60’), Saville, Jones (Morris 80’), Richards (Palmer 60’), Lawrence, Johnson
Unused Subs: Shea, Fox