Vale suffer first league loss of the season after defeat against Barrow AFC
The Valiants started the brighter of the two sides and had the first half chance of the game in the third minute. Jesse Debrah and Tom Sang linked up well down the right side before Sang whipped in a cross that was just out of reach of Ruari Paton who looked to head home from close range.
Vale continued their bright start and had the first shot on target in the 15th minute. Kyle John plucked out a long ball the sky before finding Ruari Paton, the Vale forward played the ball to his right, into the path of Ronan Curtis who saw his low effort comfortably saved by Paul Farman.
Farman was called into action again seven minutes later when he acrobatically tipped over Ben Garrity’s header following Curtis’ out-swinging corner.
The Vale had another half chance on the half hour mark when Ronan Curtis’ cross from the right almost caught Paul Farman off his line. However, the Barrow keeper retreated quickly and clawed the cross from underneath the crossbar before the danger was cleared.
The hosts had their first shot of the game in the 39th minute when Ben Jackson picked up a loose ball on halfway before unleashing a weak effort that was comfortable for Connor Ripley.
Two minutes later, Barrow came close again when Kian Spence’s cross from the left was met by Rory Feely who forced a good save from Ripley
Much like the first half, Vale started the second half the brighter of the two sides and had a half chance inside two minutes when Ethan Chislett cut inside from the left and drove into the box, before striking a powerful effort straight at Paul Farman.
Despite Vale’s bright start to the half it was the hosts who scored the opening goal of the game when Elliot Newby received the ball on the edge of the box, turned and fired low past Connor Ripley to give his side the lead in the 54th minute.
Two minutes later, Vale really should have levelled the scores when Ben Garrity latched onto a loose ball before getting into the box and dragging his shot wide of the post.
The hosts double their lead in the 76th minute when Emile Acquah received the ball on the edge of the area before driving into the area and arrowing a strike into the top corner.
Barrow wrapped up the three points with ten minutes to go when Kian Spence guided Neo Ecclestone’s low cross into the bottom corner to make the scores 3-0.
The referee indicated nine minutes of added time after Sam Hart was down receiving treatment after an injury. In the 92nd minute, Ben Heneghan forced a good save from Farman after he met George Byers’s corner with a powerful.
Barrow added a fourth when Dom Telford found space in the box to finish calmly in the 95th minute.
TEAM NEWS:
Barrow AFC: Paul Farman, Dean Campbell, Niall Canavan, Kian Spence (Sam Foley 85’), Ged Garner (Emile Acquah 63’), Robbie Gotts, Katia Kouyate (Dom Telford 85’), Connor Mahoney (Elliot Newby 50’), Rory Feely (Neo Ecclestone 63’), Ben Jackson, Theo Vassell.
Subs not used: Wyll Stanway, Andy Dallas.
Port Vale: Connor Ripley, Ben Heneghan, Ben Garrity ©, Ethan Chislett (George Byers 56’), Ronan Curtis (Benicio Baker-Boaitey 56’), Ruari Paton (Jayden Stockley 56’), Ryan Croasdale, Tom Sang, Jesse Debrah, Kyle John (Baylee Dipepa 69), Sam Hart (James Plant 89’).
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Nathan Smith.