A Rhys Walters brace and a second-half goal from Trialist C helped the Valiants to victory against Wigan Athletic as pre-season preparations continued at the Brick Community Stadium.
Jon Brady's side had the first attack of the game in the 6th minute when Jaheim Headley broke down the left side before beating his man and hanging up a cross that’s just out of reach of Mo Faal.
Rhys Walters put the Valiants ahead in the 14th minute when Jaheim Headley received the ball on the edge of the area before finding Onel Hernandez down the right side. The Cuban winger cut inside before finding Rhys Walters on the edge of the area, who found the far corner with a precise curled finish.
Four minutes later, Hernandez was heavily involved in another good Vale move as he cut inside and then outside before getting to the byline and flashing a ball across the face of goal where Oli lynch was just inches away from getting on the end of it.
In the 23rd minute, Max Power had the hosts' first meaningful effort of the game as he tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his low strike whistled past the post.
Ten minutes before the break, the hosts had a good spell of the ball and after consecutive corners were cleared, Hindolo Mustapha curled a long-range effort well over the crossbar.
Rhys Walters doubled his, and his side's, tally three minutes before the break. A corner from the right was cleared as far as the Vale midfielder, who struck a low effort towards goal which seemed to bobble over the goalkeeper and nestle in the back of the net.
In standard pre-season fashion, Jon Brady made seven changes to his side at half-time. This didn’t have any hindrance on the Vale performance as a third goal was added seven minutes after the break. Kyle John played the ball down the line to Oli Lynch, who outmuscled his man before crossing to Trialist C, who found the bottom corner with a composed first-time volley.
On the hour mark, it was the hosts' turn to make wholesale changes as they changed their whole XI. In the 68th minute, Joseph Hungbo did well down the left side before crossing towards the back post, where it was met with a weak effort that went well wide.
Wigan pulled a goal back twenty minutes from time when a cross from the left was cleared as far as Harrison Rimmer, who headed home from close range.
Mason Terry was forced into action four minutes later as he made an excellent reflex save following Dara Costelloe’s close-range effort. The Vale keeper spread himself quickly and made a good save with his legs.
Terry made another good save ten minutes from time when he moved quickly to tip a free-kick over the bar as it looked destined for the top corner.
Trialist B came close for the Vale two minutes from time as he met a clearance with a long-range effort, but it was comfortable for the keeper, who made the save down to his right.
TEAM NEWS:
Wigan Athletic
Joe Walsh (Tom Watson 60’), Jon Mellis (Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen 60’), Trialist A, James Carragher (Sam Bolland 60’), Connor Barrett (Morgan Fox 60’) Fraser Murray (K’Marni Miller 60’), Jensen Weir © (Tobais Brenan 60’), Max Power (Ronan Darcy 60’), Hindolo Mustapha (Akeel Higgins 45’), Chris Sze (Joseph Hungbo 60’), Sonny Perkins (Dara Costelloe 60’)
Port Vale
Jackson Smith (Mason Terry 45’), Cameron Humphreys (Connor Hall 45’), George Byers © (Ryan Croasdale 45’), Jaheim Headley (Jack Shorrock 60’), Jordan Gabriel (Kyle John 45’), Liam Gordon (Trialist B 45’), Mo Faal (Trialist C 45’), Onel Hernandez (Miracle Orisakwe 60’), Oli Lynch (Eddie Lake 75’), Rhys Walters (Charlie Bussel, Trialist A (Jasper Moon 45’)
