Match report Vale Res v Burton Albion Res
Port Vale 1 (0) V Burton Albion 0 (0)
PORT VALE:Port Vale:Ryan Boot, Joe Evans, Tom Morris, Gary O’Neil, Joe Davis, Ejoir Okosieme, Josh Croft (Luke Beesley 76), Jack Pryor (Will Whieldon 45), Jordan Hugill, Dominic Dell, Ryan Lloyd.
Subs (not used):Doug Price., Ricardo Swaby, Mathew Warner.
BURTON ALBION:Hornby, Currie, Austin, Doyle, Coggins (Harness 60), Slade, Palmer, Youseff, Knowles, Phillips, Browne (Murfin 76).
Subs (not used):Machall, Horton.
look at Jordan Hugill. O’Neil and Dell were U18 players from Wolves with Okosieme being from Middlesbrough and although again an U18 player he was about the same height as Anthony Gardener and had a very competent game at the back in the difficult blustery conditions.thThe Reserves again fielded a number of new trialists as well as taking a 4
minute corner that saw Okosieme head just over the bar. Vale had the best of this period and Lloyd was soon turning to shoot but without the accuracy to trouble Hornby. Lloyd then turned provider as he threaded a ball through for Hugill, but he failed to control the ball and it ran out of play. Burton had their share of attacks but failed to create clear chances as vale wasted theirs as an Evans free kick was headed wide by Davis and a Hugill cross was met at the far post by Croft but was sliced high and wide.thVale had an early scare as a Davis clearance was charged down and Morris had to get back to close an attacker down to avert any problems. Vale’s first serious effort came from a 10
Vale came under some pressure as a shot was partially blocked and spun high into the air to be caught by Boot under his crossbar. A Pryor shot was comfortably saved and then Hugill again fed croft only to see the resulting shot on the run hit high and wide as halftime was reached without a goal. It continued in this fashion to half time as a Dell shot was saved and then the best save of the half came as a corner was not cleared and Okosieme saw a fierce shot palmed away to safety.
As the windy conditions worsened Vale were unlucky early in the second period as Dell cut in from the left and tried to curl his shot into the far corner of the net only to see it drift just wide. A Hugill shot from 25 yards then went straight at the ‘keeper but with 10 minutes of the half gone the visitors created a clear opening but again the wind caused a misplaced effort at control and the chance had evaporated and on the hour mark an even better chance for the Visitors was blasted over the bar from 6 yards.
win the race and although Hornby got a hand to the ball, he could not prevent it entering an empty net to give Vale the lead.DellVale responded with a dipping shot from Lloyd bouncing off the top of the bar and to safety. Vale took the lead with a wind assisted effort with 20 minutes remaining as a Burton clearance reached Okosieme, he fed the ball back to Boot who launched the ball forward. As players from both sides went to head it a gust took the ball over them and towards the visitor’s penalty area and a race between Dell, 2 defenders and the ‘keeper saw
minute chip hit the angle of bar and post and the follow up effort was plucked out of the air by Boot.thBurton almost replied immediately as Youseff saw 2 good efforts kept out by Boot in quick succession. Davis then lost the ball near the half way line and the foul he committed to save the situation meant he received a yellow card. Vale then a had a spell of pressure with Morris having a 30 yard effort well held and Hugill saw 2 goal bound efforts blocked by last ditch blocks. Vale survived a late scare as an 89
The win put Vale top of the Divisional League 2 table as well as already being top of the Regional West Division with a combined record of W9 D2 L3 with next week’s game at Tranmere being the final game of their season.
Report Lindon Roberts