Youngsters Start With A Draw Against The Cod Army
Vale kicked off their season with a home draw against Fleetwood down and were a little unlucky not to win, although in the early stages that looked an unlikely proposition as the Cod Army dominated the first 10 minutes and were a goal up. Sustained pressure was mounted on the Vale defence with a number of corners arising from shots being blocked and Ferrie punching away crosses, as well as Ferrie pushing a shot from outside the area at full stretch. Eventually the pressure told as a ball over the top of Vale’s defence saw Djabi beat the offside trap and he and Ferrie were in a race for the ball at the edge of the penalty area. Djabi was first there and flicked it through Ferrie’s legs before Ferrie collided with him, resulting in the inevitable penalty which Myers drove confidently home to give Fleetwood a deserved lead in the 10th minute.
A minute later they almost extended this as the left winger collected another long ball to the wing and with Vale appealing in vain for an offside flag he cut in and brought a partial save from Ferrie who then made an even better save from a point blank effort from the loose ball. Vale then started make their own chances with by playing the expansive football that they are capable of and soon Turner was controlling and turning to shoot just over the bar. Vale should have equalized in the 20th minute as turner was played in for a 1 on 1 but the ‘keeper managed to get his body in the way to block the effort. Conlon was next to have a chance as he shot just wide of the far post from 10 yards.
Fleetwood attacks were now rare but Ferrie was called upon to push another good shot around he post at the expense of a corner before Vale drew level after 42 minutes. A Vale shot that was going wide was just reached by Barton’s outstretched foot and this diverted it on to the post the ball came back to Conlon who steadied himself and placed it into the far corner of the net past 2 defenders and the goalkeeper. In the final minute of the half the visitors almost retook the lead as their No.10 cut in from the wing and hammered the ball at the near post area but Ferrie was able to beat it away.
The first chance of the second half saw a cross reach Barton but as he tried to shoot on the turn the ball hit him on the thigh and bounced away. Gibbons was then shown a yellow card for a challenge in midfield to add to the 2 that Fleetwood players had received for stopping free kicks being taken. Barton saw another shot blocked before the first Vale player to be substituted in the 61st minute. Vale took the lead in the 66th minute as a strongly driven cross saw substitute Benns unable to control the ball but it bounced into the path of Turner who slotted it home.
Vale continued to attack and Ede saw a shot blocked and then Calverley broke from midfield and drove forward to shoot over from the edge of the box. Fleetwood equalized with 12 minutes remaining after being awarded a free-kick on the right hand corner of the penalty area; The shot from Myers hit a player in the wall and the deflection wrong footed all the defenders and Ferrie to drop into the net with everyone static. After scoring a brace Myers suffered a knee injury soon after when crossing the ball and Fleetwood played out the final minutes with 10 men after having made all their substitutions. The Vale nearly won the game in the 3rd minute of added on time as Faulkner rose above everyone to meet a corner but his downward header was too powerful and it bounced up and over the bar.
Port Vale: Ferrie, Gibbons, Morris, Calverley, Faulkner, Attrell, Conlon (Benns), Ede, Turner, Barton (Mottram), Ashton (Walford).
Subs not used: Slinn, Fraser, Dennis.
A minute later they almost extended this as the left winger collected another long ball to the wing and with Vale appealing in vain for an offside flag he cut in and brought a partial save from Ferrie who then made an even better save from a point blank effort from the loose ball. Vale then started make their own chances with by playing the expansive football that they are capable of and soon Turner was controlling and turning to shoot just over the bar. Vale should have equalized in the 20th minute as turner was played in for a 1 on 1 but the ‘keeper managed to get his body in the way to block the effort. Conlon was next to have a chance as he shot just wide of the far post from 10 yards.
Fleetwood attacks were now rare but Ferrie was called upon to push another good shot around he post at the expense of a corner before Vale drew level after 42 minutes. A Vale shot that was going wide was just reached by Barton’s outstretched foot and this diverted it on to the post the ball came back to Conlon who steadied himself and placed it into the far corner of the net past 2 defenders and the goalkeeper. In the final minute of the half the visitors almost retook the lead as their No.10 cut in from the wing and hammered the ball at the near post area but Ferrie was able to beat it away.
The first chance of the second half saw a cross reach Barton but as he tried to shoot on the turn the ball hit him on the thigh and bounced away. Gibbons was then shown a yellow card for a challenge in midfield to add to the 2 that Fleetwood players had received for stopping free kicks being taken. Barton saw another shot blocked before the first Vale player to be substituted in the 61st minute. Vale took the lead in the 66th minute as a strongly driven cross saw substitute Benns unable to control the ball but it bounced into the path of Turner who slotted it home.
Vale continued to attack and Ede saw a shot blocked and then Calverley broke from midfield and drove forward to shoot over from the edge of the box. Fleetwood equalized with 12 minutes remaining after being awarded a free-kick on the right hand corner of the penalty area; The shot from Myers hit a player in the wall and the deflection wrong footed all the defenders and Ferrie to drop into the net with everyone static. After scoring a brace Myers suffered a knee injury soon after when crossing the ball and Fleetwood played out the final minutes with 10 men after having made all their substitutions. The Vale nearly won the game in the 3rd minute of added on time as Faulkner rose above everyone to meet a corner but his downward header was too powerful and it bounced up and over the bar.
Port Vale: Ferrie, Gibbons, Morris, Calverley, Faulkner, Attrell, Conlon (Benns), Ede, Turner, Barton (Mottram), Ashton (Walford).
Subs not used: Slinn, Fraser, Dennis.