The Valiants have the chance to get back to back wins in the league and carry on their form from Saturday’s win over Salford City as they travel to the in-form Cambridge United. With the game just a few hours away, we look back on two classic matches that the Vale have played against United.
Football League Division Two, Abbey Stadium, Wednesday 13th February 2002: Cambridge United 0-1 Port Vale
The Vale had won four of their previous five games heading into the fixture, with the last being a 1-0 win at Stoke City, meaning they were full of confidence as they approached the clash.
The fixture was a re-arranged game at Cambridge that had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch three weeks earlier.
Scottish under-21 striker Steve McPhee scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute to secure all three points and leave the Vale 12th in the table.
Cambridge United – Perez, Murray, Angus, Duncan (Austin 47), Tann, Wanless, Guttridge (Fleming 72), Tudor, One, Youngs, Chillingworth (Scully 60)
Subs not used – Marshall, Traore
Port Vale – Goodlad, Carragher, Walsh, Burns, Rowland, Brisco, Bridge-Wilkinson, Cummins, Durnin, Brooker, McPhee
Subs not used – Delany, Burton, Ingram, Dodd, McClare
Att. 2,379
Division Four, Abbey Stadium, Saturday 25th January 1986: Cambridge United 1-3 Port Vale
The Vale were sat 5th in the table going into this important game against a struggling Cambridge United side.
Vale’s away kit of yellow shirts clashed with Cambridge’s amber and black so were forced to borrow some white shirts from Cambridge, combined with green shorts.
The Valiants took a first-half lead thanks to a header from central defender John Williams, and after the break Vale’s dominance continued with further goals from Geoff Hunter and Robbie Earle, before Colin Walker pulled a goal back for Cambridge.
Vale went on a run of 18 games without defeat to clinch promotion whilst Cambridge had to seek re-election, the last season before relegation became automatic.
Cambridge United – Hansbury, Butler, Bennett, Fallon, Dowman, Rayment, Mundee, Spriggs, Crown, Walker, Comfort.
Port Vale - Arnold, Webb, Sproson, J. Williams, Bromage, Hunter, Bowden, Maguire, O.Williams, Jones, Earle
Sub not used- Brown
Att. 2,437