Devante Rodney scored his and Port Vale's first goal of the league campaign as we picked up a point in a 1-1 draw on the road against Stevenage.
The Valiants travelled to the Lamex Stadium in search of their first win of the season but had to deal with some early pressure from the home side. Elliot Osborne’s shot from just outside the area stung the palms of Lucas Covolan on four minutes. Quarter of an hour later and we had our first goal of the season, courtesy of Devante Rodney. David Worrall’s ball from the right found Dan Jones at the back of the box who played it to Rodney right in front of goal and managed to get the ball across the line for 1-0.
Osborne tried his luck again on 25 minutes but again Covolan was equal to it parrying the ball behind for a corner. That corner was played to the back post to Luke Norris but his header went over the bar. Four minutes later Elliot List drove into the area on the left-hand side, cutting onto his right foot and firing an effort at goal but another good save from Covolan prevented the hosts equalising.
The Valiants would have to fight for their first win as on 33 minutes Norris equalised with a well hit free-kick from 25-yards. Eight minutes later Stevenage had another free-kick in a similar area, this time taken by Ben Coker which scraped the post as it flew past our goal.
The second half started and the Valiants were much improved after the break and had a chance to retake the lead through James Wilson on 49 minutes. A ball in from the right found Wilson but his header just crept over the bar. Five minutes later Wilson was in again, running at the two centre-halves and unleashed a shot towards goal from outside the area but he dragged the ball wide.
We won a free-kick five-yards out to the right of the area on 56 minutes, Worrall played the ball short to Brad Walker who fired the ball just over the bar. Stevenage had a dangerous corner routine eight minutes later. Ben Garrity cleared a header off the line before Jake Taylor volleyed wide for the hosts.
74 minutes played and Elliot List had a great opportunity to put Stevenage in front but there was too much power on the cross in as it cannoned off his head and out for a goal-kick. Two late chances for the Valiants, Garrity had a well struck effort saved by Joseph Anang before Worrall headed wide from a corner. The game ended all square, with neither side able to find a winner.
Stevenage: Anang, James-Wildin, Coker, Reeves, Prosser, List, Taylor, Norris (76’ Daly), Osborne (90’+1 Marshall), Vancooten, Reid (61’ Read)
Subs not used: Bastien, Smith, Townsend-West, Williams
Port Vale: Covolan, Jones, Walker, Legge (36’ Martin), Smith, Worrall, Wilson (73’ Proctor), Johnson (46’ Garrity), Rodney, Pett, Cass
Subs not used: Stone, Benning, Amoo, Politic