Report from Priory Road
As expected, Chris Lines returned to the fray after missing out with a slight ankle injury on Monday night in Vale’s 4-0 win over Plymouth Parkway.
Ironically, both Richard Duffy and Tom Pope were ruled out of the Bodmin game with similar ankle injuries, but both are expected to be fit for Saturday’s encounter against Tiverton Town.
It was the first time Vale had played in Cornwall since 1998 – exactly sixteen years to the day since they recorded a 4-1 win against Porthleven.
GOAL: who made no mistake.CHRIS BIRCHALLIt didn’t take long for Vale to get their noses in front – 67 seconds to be precise. Colin Daniel crossed low from the left and Chris Lines appeared to miscue it, but the ball ran on to
GOAL: to sweep home.BEN WILLIAMSONBirchall was involved in Vale’s second goal ten minutes later. Finding space on the right, the midfielder put the in low for
Two minutes later Carl Dickinson was forced to go off with a dislocated finger and Nathan Smith came off the bench to take up the left back position.
On the half hour Sam Johnson was called upon, getting down smartly at his near post to keep out a close range effort from Mark Gusterson.
Vale were having plenty of the ball, pressing on a number of occasions, but they didn’t manage to ass to their tally until five minutes before half time.
GOAL: to plant a 10 yard header past Kevin Miller in the Bodmin goal.COLIN DANIELThis time it was Michael O’Connor providing the ammunition, crossing from the left for
Vale made on change at the start of the second half, with Michael Brown coming on and Ryan McGivern going the other way.
Vale reshuffled with Nathan Smith moving to the heart of the Vale defence and Ryan Lloyd slotting in at left back.
Vale made another change on the hour when Louis Dodds came off the bench to replace Chris Robertson. Adam Yates moved to centre half and Chris Birchall to right back – the first time in a while that back four has consisted of four ‘local’ lads.
minute with the introduction of Mark Marchall and Steve Jennings for Colin Daniel and Michael O’Connor.stMicky Adams made two further changes in the 71
GOAL: who slotted the ball under the advancing Johnson and into the net.RICKKI SHEPHERD minute when the ball was threaded through for thThe home side pulled a goal back in the 74
GOAL: cut inside on the left to fir in from a tight angle.MARK MARSHALL minute Vale opened up a three-goal margin once again when stIn the 81
Ryan Boot came on as an outfield substitute for the third time in pre-season when he came on to replace Chris Birchall.
BODMIN TOWN:Kevin Miller, Jack Podmore, Huw Morgan, Tom Chambers, Steve Simmonds, Sam Matthews, Danny Brook, Adam Carter, Mark Gusterson, Luke Doddridge, Lambert Keise. SUBS: Sam Hill, Tom McHale, Dan Marshall, Sam Lane.
PORT VALE: Chris Neal, Steven Jennings, Michael Brown, Mark Marshall, Nathan Smith, Louis Dodds, Ryan BootSUBS:Sam Johnson, Adam Yates, Carl Dickinson, Chris Robertson, Ryan McGivern, Chris Birchall, Ben Williamson, Chris Lines, Michael O’Connor, Colin Daniel, Ryan Lloyd.