An injury time Josh Wright header see’s the points shared as the search for a first away league win of the season for the Vale continues.
It didn’t take long for the home side to break the deadlock here at the Breyer Group Stadium after Conor Wilkinson picked out an unmarked Josh Wright at the back post who headed into the bottom corner after just four minutes; a really sloppy one from Vale’s point of view.
It could have been two just a minute later when a dangerous cross was whipped into the Vale box, but Leon Legge was on hand to avert the danger.
Things got worse for the Vale after nine minutes when an apparent injury forced John Askey into replacing Manny Oyeleke with Scott Burgess.
Once again, Vale struggled to find their feet early on in this one, but their first chance fell on ten minutes when David Worrall picked out skipper Tom Pope in the box whose header sailed harmlessly wide.
The same combination came close once again for the away side as Worrall delivered from the right-hand side this time, and his cross was met by the head of Pope who saw his effort fly over the bar after 15 minutes.
Wilkinson continued to cause Vale problems when he wriggled his way into the 18-yard-box, however he could only find the side-netting with his effort from a tight angle.
The Vale’s pressure eventually paid off when James Gibbons found himself alone in the 18-yard-area and struck the ball well which was parried into the path of substitute Burgess who made no mistake with the finish to draw Vale level after 23 minutes.
Vale then looked well on course to grab their first away league win of the season after a loose ball from a corner fell to Legge who buried the ball into the bottom left corner to complete a quick turnaround for the Valiants, just five minutes after the equaliser; it was well deserved to say the least.
Vale came just inches away from extending their lead when Gibbons tried his luck from 25-yards out but saw his swerving effort flash agonisingly wide of the post.
A foul on David Amoo presented another opportunity for the Vale when Worrall’s delivery from the resulting free-kick found Legge who couldn’t quite divert his effort on target.
Scott Brown had to be alert to deny Louis Dennis, whose free-kick beat the Vale wall but Brown got down well to his right-hand side to deny Orient the equaliser minutes before the interval.
After a shaky first five minutes, the Vale then dominated proceedings for the majority of the first period and Askey’s side could have done without the interval as his side looked likely to extend their lead during the latter stages of the first half.
The away side thought they’d extended their lead after 52 minutes when Amoo poked the ball in from a cross, but the linesman had his flag raised for offside.
The Vale started the second half as they ended the first – dominating. A smart set-play earned the away side a corner in which Worrall found a wide open Amoo at the back post whose knockback was cleared by the O’s defence.
Just a minute later it was Orient’s turn to squander a fine opportunity as Dan Happe was found unmarked from a corner, but his bullet header flashed over Brown’s bar.
On the hour mark Orient were level when Vale’s clearance could only find Wilkinson on the edge of the area whose wonderful curled effort found the top left corner to restore parity for the home side.
There was a short break from the football when Wilkinson went down in the box looking for a penalty which infuriated Gibbons, leading to a coming together between the players; earning both of them a booking.
After conceding the equaliser, Vale looked a much different side from the one we saw in the first half as Orient dominated proceedings after 75 minutes.
Askey’s men looked to react to a lacklustre second half and fashioned an opportunity when Taylor found himself in space but could only drag his effort well wide of the mark.
Vale came close once more when and Taylor was involved again as he whipped a stunning cross to the back post, but the angle was too much for Worrall as his effort went wide.
The Vale restored their lead just five minutes from time when Taylor picked up the ball, again on the left-hand side and he proceeded to wrap his foot round the ball, curling it into the top corner to leave Brill with no chance at all.
Just as Vale were heading to a first league win on the road this season, Wright is once more picked out in the area to head into the bottom corner drawing the home side level once more.
The home side were not finished there, Wilkinson again found space outside the area and his long-range effort stung the palms of brown who tipped round the post for a corner.
That proved to be the last chance of the game as Vale still search for their first three points on the road this season.
Line ups:
Leyton Orient: Brill, Ling, Widdowson, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Clay (58’ Brophy), Wilkinson, Happe, Dennis (70’ Maguire-Drew), Marsh, Wright
Unused subs: Sargeant, Gorman, Harrold, Ogie, Alabi
Port Vale: Brown, Gibbons, Crookes, Joyce, Legge, Worrall, Oyeleke (9’ Burgess), Pope(73’ Bennett), Smith, Taylor, Amoo (89’Lloyd)
Unused subs: Maddison, Kennedy, Brisley, Archer