Martin Sherif’s last-gasp leveller salvages a point for The Valiants against Reading at Vale Park.
Jon Brady made two changes from his side that took on Stevenage in midweek. Funso Ojo and Ben Waine returned to the starting XI as they replaced Jayden Stockley & Tyler Magloire.
The visitors made a bright start and had the game's first chance. Kadan Young raced into the box before taking aim from the right, but his effort was turned behind for a corner by Joe Gauci. From the following corner, Paudie O’Connor powered a header wide of the goal.
The Valiants had a good opportunity to take the lead after 15 minutes. Eli Campbell’s corner from the left fell to George Hall at the back post who saw his effort well blocked by a Reading defender, the loose ball eventually fell to Andre Gray who cut inside from the right side, but his low effort was comfortably saved by Pereira.
The Visitors came close again three minutes later as Kamari Doyle’s low effort from the right side of the box curled the wrong side of the post as he looked for the far corner.
After coming close early on, Kadan Young had another good opportunity ten minutes before the break. The winger cut inside from the left and struck a powerful effort towards goal, but Joe Gauci was once again on hand to turn it around the post.
The Visitors were awarded a penalty in the 38th minute as Young broke the offside trap before squaring to Jack Marriott, but it was cleared by Connor Hall. However, the referee pulled play back and pointed to the spot as he felt that Gauci had fouled Young before he passed the ball to Marriot. Eventually, Lewis Wing stepped up and rolled the ball past the Vale keeper to put his side ahead.
The Valiants almost hit back instantly as Andre Gray received the ball in the box and found Jordan Shipley, but his first-time effort was well saved by Pereira, who was at full stretch to his left.
Vale started the second half brightly and forced another good save out of Pereira as he was on hand to tip Funso Ojo’s effort around the post after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area.
Brady made a quadruple change on the hour mark and brought on Jayden Stockley and Martin Sherif. The latter had a great opportunity to draw his side level fifteen minutes from time. Archer’s corner from the left was flicked on at the near post towards Sherif but he got it all wrong and miss-hit his effort as it was dragged wide of the post.
In the 90th minute, Reading had a golden chance to seal the deal as Lewis Wing won the ball in midfield and played Paddy Lane through on goal, but his effort was blazed lover the crossbar.
As the referee indicated six minutes of added time, Jordan Gabriel raced down the right and got into the box before he was surrounded by Reading defenders. Gabriel did well to workspace for a shot that was deflected and turned around the post by Pereira. The following corner was met by Connor Hall at the near post, but his header flashed across the goalmouth and evaded everyone.
Two minutes later, Vale were inches away from a leveller as Jordan Gabriel’s throw-in was cleared as far as Ethon Archer, who saw his effort blocked and it fell to Martin Sherif at the back post, who cut the ball back across goal, but once again no one was there to turn home.
Vale were throwing everything at it and finally got their just rewards for what was a dominant second-half performance as Sherif poked home in the 96th minute. After a corner was cleared, Gauci’s long ball found Archer, who was in-behind, and he got into the box before curling in a low cross towards the back post that was met by Martin Sherif, who slid home to earn Vale a point right at the death and spark scenes of bedlam inside Vale Park.
TEAM NEWS
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Connor Hall, Ethon Archer, Funso Ojo, Ben Waine (Martin Sherif 60’), Kyle John © (Ben Heneghan 88’) , Cameron Humphreys, Jordan Shipley (Jordan Gabriel 60’), Eli Campbell (Liam Gordon 60’), George Hall, Andre Gray (Jayden Stockley 60’)
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Grant Ward.
Reading: Joel Pereira, Liam Fraser, Jack Marriot (Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan 84’), Charlie Savage, Lewis Wing ©, Paudie O’Connor, Benn Ward (Jeriel Dorsett 66’), Kadan Young (Paddy Lane 72’), Ryan Nyambe, Kamari Doyle (Randell Williams 72’), Derrick Williams (Finley Burns 85’)
Subs not used: Jack Stevens, Andy Yiadom.
