Port Vale record a third league draw in a row as they play out a goalless tie with Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose.
Vale headed into this afternoon’s tie four games unbeaten in all competitions following last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Cheltenham Town, and The Silkmen were looking to build on their impressive 2-0 win over Crawley Town on Saturday.
Neil Aspin made one change to the side that ran out last weekend, as Mitch Clark came in to replace the injured Connell Rawlinson.
The home side fashioned the first chance of the game, as uncharacteristically, Leon Legge got caught on the ball deep in his own half. The Silkmen came streaming forward after gaining possession and worked a shooting opportunity, though Scott Brown was on-hand to palm away Harry Smith’s effort and relieve the danger.
The Silkmen maintained their foothold during the opening encounters and went close again with 14 minutes on the clock. Pearson took aim from the edge of the box; however, his bouncing shot was comfortably collected by Brown in the Vale net. Sol Campbell would’ve been impressed by his side’s start to the game.
Fiacre Kelleher was next to go close for the home-side with half-an-hour played, as he directed a powerful header goalwards following a corner, though once again, Brown caught to keep the score-line level.
With minutes to play in the first-half, Brown was once again called into action and you’ll do well to find a better save this season, as he denied Ben Stephens in miraculous fashion.
Stephens hit a low and hard strike to The Vale ‘keeper’s left-hand side from merely yards away and somehow, Brown’s outstretched arm cleared the danger to keep Neil Aspin’s side level – a magnificent save from the Vale stopper.
Brown’s first-half performance a stark contrast to Kieran O’Hara in The Silkmen net, who headed down the tunnel at half-time without a save to make.
Vale started much brighter in the second-half with Luke Hannant and Cristian Montano beginning to threaten on either side of midfield, though just lacked that cutting edge to really threaten the score-line.
Aspin showed his hand first as he relieved Tom Conlon of his duties, bringing Scott Quigley into the fold with just over 25 minutes to play, as he looked for the opening goal of the game.
The big forward made an instant impact and almost had Vale in the lead with his first contribution of the game. He took hold inside the box before wriggling away from the Macclesfield defender and unleashing a strike at goal, however a slight deflection took the chance wide.
Montano then went threatened as his dipping effort from the edge of the box narrowly misses The Silkmen crossbar – a clear improvement in Vale’s play following the introduction of Quigley.
Aspin once again proved his intent as Whitfield came on to replace Montano with 15 minutes to play, as The Valiants maintained their pressure in the final stages of the game.
Despite throwing all they could at The Silkmen in the second-half, Vale effectively failed to create any real clear-cut chances to prove the difference, as Darren Drysdale blew up to bring the contest to an end with the spoils being shared at the Moss Rose.
Teams
Macclesfield Town: O’Hara, Fitzpatrick, Cameron, Kelleher, Pearson, Marsh, Rose, Stephens, Lloyd, Smith, Ponticelli (Wilson, 73)
Unused Subs: Welch-Hayes, Arthur, Maycock, Grimes, Vincenti, Hodgkiss
Port Vale: Brown, Clark, Vassell, Smith, Legge, Oyeleke, Montano (Whitfield, 76), Hannant, Kay, Conlon (Quigley, 66), Pope
Unused Subs: Dodds, Gibbons, Hardcastle, Hornby, Joyce
Attendance: 3951 (1908 Vale)