The Valiants progress into the Second Round of the Emirates FA Cup thanks to a convincing 5-1 victory over Isthmian Division One North side, Maldon & Tiptree.
Darren Moore made just three changes from last week’s fixture against Stockport County in an attempt to avoid a cup upset against a side who were 99 places below the Valiants.
It was the visitors who took a shock lead after just five minutes when a cross from the right was turned home by Anisius Lewis, who was left unmarked in the six-yard box.
After an early opener from the visitors, Vale soon took control of the game and levelled the scores ten minutes later. Ruari Paton picked up the ball on the edge of the box before driving forward and firing a low effort into the bottom corner.
Within seconds, the turnaround was complete as George Hall ghosted in at the back post to meet a cross from the left with a cushioned volley that flew into the top corner, leaving Elliot Justham with no chance.
Two minutes later, Vale’s lead was doubled. Ruari Paton danced his way into the box before sitting down a defender and slotting home and grabbing his second goal of the game and creating a comfortable cushion between the sides, much to the relief of most of the Vale Park crowd.
After a shaky start, Vale were cruising and added a fourth goal in the 23rd minute. George Hall, who was playing at right wing-back, got to the by-line before cutting back to Devante Cole, who fired into the roof of the net to get himself on the scoresheet.
Despite already scoring four, Vale were keen to add to their tally. In the space of a few minutes Jesse Debrah headed wide from close range after a well-worked corner. George Byers also came close as his low effort from 25 yards was turned around the post by Justham.
In the second half, Vale continued to dominate. Devante Cole picked up a loose ball in the box and looked to curl an effort into the far-right corner, but his effort was well saved by Justham, who turned it around the post.
In the 55th minute, Vale added a fifth goal. Ruari Paton’s corner from the left was headed goalwards by George Byers, but Justham saved well. The rebound fell kindly to Devante Cole, who bundled home from close range to add his second goal of the afternoon.
Vale continued to push to add more goals to the tally, Ronan Curtis and Dajaune Brown exchanged passes on halfway line, and Brown was released. He drove into the Maldon & Tiptree half and cut the ball back to Curtis, who had continued his run, but his effort was blazed over the crossbar.
Credit to the visitors, they continued to battle and had a rare chance with ten minutes to go. Amine Sassi cut inside and found Courtney Senior on the edge of the box, who fired over the crossbar and into the empty Bycars Stand.
Five minutes from time, Mo Faal came close to adding his name to the scoresheet as he met George Hall’s cross at the back post before volleying over the bar.
In the dying embers of the game, Jesse Debrah headed home Ronan Curtis’ corner from the left, but it was flagged offside as George Hall looked to be impeding the keeper.
TEAM NEWS
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Connor Hall, George Byers ©, Rhys Walters, Ruari Paton, Jesse Debrah, Cameron Humphreys (Ben Heneghan 58’), Marvin Johnson (Jaheim Headley 58’), George Hall, Mo Faal, Devante Cole (Dajaune Brown 58’).
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Ben Garrity, Jayden Stockley, Ben Waine.
Maldon & Tiptree: Elliot Justham, Matthew Yates, Cameron James, Tom Eastham (Louis Arrowsmith 58’), Jack Cawley ©, Dylan Williams (Mohammed Amir 69’), Lewis Dunne (Anthony Wordsworth 76’), Courtney Senior, Terrell Egbri (Amine Sassi 58’), Freddie Sears, Anisius Lewis (Macauley Bonne 58’).
Subs not used: Tommy Dixon-Hodge, Kamel Sassi, Ollie Fraser, Pip Boyland.
