Vale held by the Daggers
PORT VALE: Sam Johnson, Adam Yates, Rob Taylor, Gareth Owen, Chris Shuker, Ben Williamson, Ryan LloydSUBS:Chris Neal, John McCombe, Doug Loft, Louis Dodds, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Ashley Vincent, Tom Pope, Clayton McDonald, Sam Morsy, Ryan Burge, Richard Duffy.Vale made one change from the side that won at Bradford at the weekend, with Sam Morsy coming in and Rob Taylor dropping to the bench.
This allowed the skipper to drop in at left back again and Morsy to fill the gap in the middle of the park vacated by Loft.
Vale took a minute or two to settle into any pattern, but before long they were threatening the visitors and pushing bodies up in numbers.
minute, however, when two Dagenham players managed to get in behind the Vale defence, Chris Neal to sort things out.thThey were a little fortunate in the 10
The Vale ‘keeper came quickly and bravely off his line to stop the danger, but was left injured, requiring treatment, after being caught by Sam Williams, who picked up a yellow card for his troubles.
The players had been warned they faced a difficult game against the Daggers, and so it was proving to be, with the visitors competing for every ball and prepared to counter attack quickly.
Vale were having plenty of the ball but were finding it difficult to break down a stubborn, hard working Dagenham & Redbridge outfit.
The Valiants kept plugging away, but seemed to lack that cutting edge in the final third where they came across a brick wall every time they went forward.
minute when the ball fell kindly at his feet, but his goal bound shot was blocked at the expense of a corner kick.thJennison Myrie-Williams looked like he may put Vale in the driving seat in the 38
Vale were looking more and more dangerous at this point and Ashley Vincent forced a full length save from ‘keeper Chris Lewington to keep the scores level.
Lewington then dived to his left to keep out a firm header from Tom Pope with an excellent save in stoppage time as Vale looked like they may finally break the resistance of the visitors.
The home side continued to hammer on the Dagenham door in the second half but were not getting the answer they were after, despite almost relentless pressure.
Vale made a change on the hour with the introduction of Chris Shuker for Ryan Burge as the manager opted for fresh legs in the Vale midfield.
There was a second substitution seven minutes later with Ben Williamson coming on to replace Louis Dodds, with Vale desperate to find an opening.
Ashley Vincent was a little unfortunate when he knocked the ball from one foot to the other and unleashed a 20 yard drive which flashed the wrong side of the post.
Seconds later the visitors broke and opened the scoring when a hopeful long range effort from Luke Howell crept through the fingers of a despairing Chris Neal.
Vale’s inability to make their dominance pay had come back to haunt them, but three and a half minutes later they were level.
just inside the box and he hit a low powerful drive through a sea of bodies and into the back of the Dagenham net for the equaliser.JENNISON MYRIE-WILLIAMSThe ball dropped at the feet of
minute substitution, their final change of the match, when Adam Yates came on to replace Richard Duffy.thVale then made a 76
Substitute Dwight Gayle wasted a golden opportunity to restore the visitors’ lead when he fired high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
Vale continued to huff and puff but in the end they had to settle for a single point – not a disaster, but disappointing all the same.