Vale Reserves crash to heavy defeat
Bradford City 5 (3) v Port Vale 1 (0)
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Vale Crash to Strong Bantams Outfit as Marshall Bags a Brace
:BRADFORD CITYJoe Cracknell, James King, Greg Leigh, Liam Agnew (Xander McBurnie 76), Sinn'Kaye Christie (Kesi Omolokun 72), Christopher Routis, Mark Marshall, Sam Wright, Jamie Proctor (Niah Payne 81), Billy Clarke (Dylan Mottley-Henry 67), Josh Morris (Sumaili Cissa 84).
SUBS NOT USED:George Kenworthy.
PORT VALE:Ryan Boot, Adam Yates, Alex Morris, Brad Ede, Remie Streete, Mackenzie Faulkner, Chris Birchall, Michael Brown, JJ Hooper (Brian Barton 62), Achille Campion, Sam Kelly (Mike Calverley62).
SUBS NOT USED:Calum Ferrie, Taylor Attrell, James Gibbons.
Vale Reserves made the trip to the West Riding FA HQ ground in Leeds to face Bradford City Reserves where ex-Vale winger Marshall was soon in action as he cut in from the right forcing Morris to deflect the cross for a corner. However, after 4 minutes Vale created the first clear-cut chance as a quick free-kick by Brown was controlled by Kelly who beat his man and centred; Hooper took the ball down, swivelled and shot but Cracknell in the home goal got his fingertips to the ball to tip it over the bar. Kelly was soon in action again as he broke up the left and swung over a cross with Campion waiting in the middle to head it home; as he steadied himself a Bradford defender came running in, slipped and completely took out Campion. With Campion appealing for a spot-kick the referee waived play on to his utter amazement and mine!
minute and it was 3-0 to the home side another tight passing move put in Agnew against Boot from an acute angle but he forced it home at the near post.th minute as Proctor, wide in the box on the right knocked down a ball and played it inside for Marshall to pick his spot and curl the ball into the far corner of the net for the opener. 3 minutes later and it was 0-2 as Brown lost he ball in the centre of the pitch and a few quick passes later Clarke was able to place the ball into the opposite corner of the net that was chosen by Marshall. In the 17thThe game then quickly went out of Vale’s reach as they conceded 3 goals in 7 minutes. The first came in the 10
Campion won the ball 30 yards out in a central position and took a few paces forward before letting fly with a shot that the goalkeeper could only initially parry but the Bantams went straight to the other end where Marshall rounded Boot only to see a backtracking defender clear his shot away. Vale responded with Hooper had an opportunity but could only shoot into the ground and with the power dissipated Cracknell had no problem in collecting the ball. Vale’s final goal threat of the half saw Campion shield the ball well feeding Kelly on the left, his cross saw Hooper and a defender vying for the ball but Hooper could not get enough on the ball to really trouble the ‘keeper, so Vale went in 3 goals down as that 7 minute period of attacking power from Bradford made the significant difference between the teams.
dusted himself down and sent the ‘keeper the wrong way as he side-footed it just inside the other post.HooperVale looked to get back in the game from the off in the second period as Hooper rose highest at the far post to nod the ball goalwards but the referee adjudged him to have pushed the defender to win the ball. With 10 minutes of the half gone Vale got a foot back into the game as Birchall controlled a ball 3o yards out and played in Hooper just inside the box where a couple of defenders closed in and Hooper went down in a flurry of legs and the referee pointed to the spot;
Bradford tried to regain their 3 goal advantage as Bradford’s Morris attacked down the left wing before cutting in and shooting goalwards, but Faulkner was able the block the ball at the expense of a corner that the ever competitive Brown was able to head away. Bradford then dominated the game for a spell as Marshall blazed over from a good position and then Boot saved well from Proctor before replaced Hoper and Kelly, ready for Friday’s game, just after the hour mark. Streete then felt the force of Proctor’s play as he was left in a heap after a challenge in Vale’s penalty area that brought a free-kick once Streete had regained his feet.
minute saw Vale fall further behind as Proctor collected a cross-field ball and took it towards the corner flag before turning and playing it into the 6 yard box where the incoming Agnew had a simple task of slotting past Boot from close range. Vale did respond as Birchall flighted a good centre over that was heading towards Campion’s head, but Cracknell came out quickly to pluck it from the air before it reached him. With 11 minutes to go Bradford went nap with the best goal of the day as a cross was brought down and flicked up in one movement by Proctor to enable Marshall to volley the ball home across Boot and into the side of the goal for his second of the afternoon.thThe 69
minute to deny Marshall his hat-trick with a good save and save Vale further blushes.thVale had one more chance as Brown broke forward and slipped the ball through for Birchall to shoot from the edge of the area but it went just the wrong side of the post with Cracknell rooted to the spot. Boot was in action in the 89
Lindon Roberts – Port Vale Volunteers Group