Report from Vale Park
Attendance: 2,145 including 400 visiting supporters
Tuesday 5th August 2014
At Vale Park
Pre-Season friendly
Port Vale v West Bromwich Albion
Vale finished off their pre-season with a decent performance against Premier League opposition in their final game before the League One season kicks off with a home fixture against Walsall.
Ben Williamson and Tom Pope were each on the score sheet for the Valiants and an own goal from Albion’s Craig Dawson saw the home side get back to winning ways after two straight defeats.
There were few clues in Vale’s starting eleven as to what the side will be for Vale’s opening League One fixture on Saturday against Walsall.
. . . . . Who will start in goal, Sam Johnson or Chris Neal? Will Frederic Veseli or Adam Yates play at right back? Are Chris Lines and Mark Marshall both worthy of a starting place? Answers please on a postcard to
GOAL:, looking suspiciously offside, latched on to Craig Gardner’s through ball and confidently slotted past Sam Johnson from 12 yards.KEMAR ROOFEVale looked sharp at the start of the game but soon found themselves behind when
The visitors went close on 15 minutes when Victor Anichebe hit a dipping shot, but Sam Johnson got his fingers to it and touched the ball over his crossbar.
GOAL: drove home from close range for his fifth pre-season goal.BEN WILLIAMSONThree minutes later Vale were level. Tom Pope controlled well before spraying the ball out wide to Adam Yates – his cross was knocked across the face of goal by Ryan Lloyd and
GOAL:, who towered above the West Brom defence to guide his header inside Boaz Myhill’s left hand post.TOM POPE minute when a curling free kick from the right by Michael O’Connor was met by thVale went one better in the 27
minute Myhill was called upon to save again, this time reacting well to a shot from Williamson which seemed to have ‘goal’ written all over it.ndIn the 42
Vale made one change at the start of the second half with Louis Dodds coming on and Tom Pope remaining in the dressing room.
GOAL: minute.th moved smartly to his left to smash the ball inside the near post from just inside the box in the 49BRADLEY GARMSTONThe visitors started the second half brightly and were soon on level terms when
Vale could have edged in front again on 54 minutes when a delicate 20 yard chip from Michael O’Connor came back off the crossbar with Myhill well beaten. Williamson was quick to the loose ball, but fired over the bar from close range.
minute. On came Chris Lines, Mark Marshall, Frederic Veseli and Nathan Smith, for Michael O’Connor, Carl Dickinson, Adam Yates and Ryan McGivern.ndVale made four changes in the 62
minute was prevented from dropping into the net by an equally impressive save from Myhill as the game came to an end.thAn excellent 20 yard volley from Louis Dodds in the 90
GOAL: attempted to head a long kick from Sam Johnson back to Myhill, but with the ‘keeper on the edge of his six yard box, the ball bounced into the Albion net.CRAIG DAWSON minute but were fortunate in the way the goal came about. thVale went back in front in the 85
PORT VALE: Chris Neal, Louis Dodds, Chris Lines, Mark Marshall, Frederic Veseli, Nathan Smith, Ryan BootSUBS:Sam Johnson, Adam Yates, Chris Robertson, Ryan McGivern, Carl Dickinson, Chris Birchall, Michael O’Connor, Steve Jennings, Ryan Lloyd, Tom Pope, Ben Williamson.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Ben Foster, Chris Baird, Graham Dorrans, Saido Beramino, Youssouf Mulumbu, Adil NabiSUBS:Boaz Myhill, Andre Wisdom, Jonas Olsson, Criag Dawson, Bradley Garmston, Claudio Yacob, Craig Gardner, Chris Brunt, Liam O’Neil, Kemar Roofe, Victor Anichebe.