Vales unbeaten run comes to an end at in-form Colchester United.
Colchester United 2 (Samson Tovide 34’ & Fiacre Kelleher 86’) Port Vale 1 (Rico Richards 85’) Tuesday 11th March 2025.
Colchester United took the lead ten minutes before half time through Samson Tovide. Vale thought they had snatched a point five minutes from time when Rico Richards bundled home from close range. However, one minute the hosts snatched the points through Fiacre Kelleher’s header.
The hosts had the game’s first effort straight inside the first minute when Tovide found space in the box before firing straight at Ben Amos.
Three minutes later, Vale had a chance of their own when the ball fell kindly to Lorent Tolaj in the box, but his tame effort was saved by Matt Macey.
The third chance in what was a frantic opening ten minutes came when Ronan Curtis won the ball from Tom Flanagan in the offensive third, but the Vale forward's shot was again straight at Macey.
After the game settled down, the next chance came just before the half-hour mark. Ethan Chislett drove into the box before teeing up Kyle John, whose effort was comfortable for Matt Macey despite going through the legs of a Colchester defender.
Colchester opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Samson Tovide won the ball of Nathan Smith on halfway, before powering his way to goal and smashing an effort past Ben Amos from the right side of the box to give his side the lead. The 21-year-old forward came close to doubling his tally two minutes before the break, but his header was saved by Amos.
After going in a goal behind at the break, Vale had to good opportunities to level the scores five minutes after the interval. Ethan Chislett’s deep free-kick was turned back into the box by Connor Hall, but it was cleared at the near post. This clearance fell as far as Ronan Curtis who beat his man and sent across a teasing ball which evaded everyone as it flashed across the face of goal.
Vale were pushing for a leveller and were caught on the break as Harry Anderson drove forward and found Owura Edwards down the left side who cut inside before blazing over the crossbar.
Halfway through the second half, the Gaffer made a double chance and bought on Jayden Stockley who returned from injury. Stockley’s impact was almost immediate as he came close to getting on the end of Mitch Clark’s searching delivery.
After pushing for a leveller, Vale were finally rewarded five minutes from time as the equalising goal finally came. Tom Sang did well to keep the ball in down the right and hang up a deep cross towards Stockley who headed it down into the path of second half sub Rico Richards who was on hand to bundle home from close range to send the 200 travelling Valiants into raptures.
However, the game wasn’t level for long as the hosts went up the other end and regained the lead when an in-swinging freekick from the left was headed home by Fiacre Kelleher who flicked the ball into the far corner to put the hosts ahead once again.
The referee indicated nine minutes of additional time and Vale nearly made the most of this when Ronan Curtis cut inside and arrowed an effort towards goal which crashed off the bar before going behind.
This turned out to be the last kick of the game which means that Vale’s unbeaten start to 2025 comes to an end with defeat in Essex
Up next for the Valiants is three home games in a row, starting on Saturday when we welcome MK Dons
TEAM NEWS
Colchester United: Matt Macey, Ellis Iandolo, Fiacre Kelleher, Tom Flanagan, Harry Anderson, Samson Tovide (Lyle Taylor 45’), Jack Payne (Jack Tucker 76’), Arthur Read, Mandela Egbo, Rob Hunt, Owura Edwards (Tyreece Simpson 89’).
Subs not used: Tom Smith, Ken Aboh, Oscar Thorn, Max Joliffe.
Booked: Rob Hunt, Ellis Iandolo
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Mitch Clark (Rico Richards 83’), Connor Hall, Nathan Smith, Ethan Chislett (Jayden Stockley 63’), Ronan Curtis, Ryan Croasdale (Tom Sang 82’), Lorent Tolaj, Jesse Debrah, Kyle John (Jerry Umolu 63’), Rhys Walters (Rekeem Harper 87’).
Subs not used: Ben Heneghan, Antwoine Hackford.
Booked: Kyle John, Mitch Clark.
