The Valiants return to winning ways with a 2-1 away victory at Doncaster Rovers.
Following Wednesday’s draw against Cheltenham, Darren Moore made four changes to his side which included a debut for Jaheim Headley who signed on Thursday.
Ben Amos kept his place in the side and made a fantastic save in the 14th minute to keep the scores level. Harry Clifton went unnoticed as he raced into the box. After receiving the ball with his back to goal, Clifton set up Patrick Kelly, who curled a shot towards the far post, but Amos tipped it onto the upright before the rebound was blazed over.
The hosts enjoyed the better of the ball in the early stages of the game, and they came close again in the 23rd minute when Jordan Gibson cut inside from the left before dragging his effort wide of the near post.
Despite the hosts' dominance, it was the Valiants who took the lead just after the half hour mark. Antwoine Hackford received the ball down the left before bursting into the box and finding Ryan Croasdale who calmly slotted past the keeper.
The hosts came close to a leveller just one minute after the break when Billy Sharp met Jordan Gibson’s cross with a looping header, but Ben Amos was on hand to tip it over the bar.
This save proved vital as The Valiants doubled the lead on the hour mark. Ben Garrity’s raking pass found Mitch Clark in acres of space down the right side, The Vale Wingback raced to the byline and crossed to the near post where Lorent Tolaj got to the ball first and poked past Sharman-Lowe to grab his third of the season.
Eight minutes later, Vale came close to adding a third when a deep free-kick wasn’t cleared, and it fell to Connor Hall who stung the palms of Sharman-Lowe with a rasping volley.
In the 75th minute, Billy Sharp fired a low shot straight at Amos, but it was comfortable for the Vale stopper. The host continued to push for a goal and worked a good opportunity three minutes later when a cross fell to Owen Bailey on the edge of the box, but his half-volley ballooned over the bar.
Doncaster pulled a goal back seven minutes from time when Jamie Sterry thundered a strike into the top corner from thirty yards, leaving Ben Amos with no chance in the Vale goal.
After pulling one back, the hosts were throwing everything at Vale and they almost levelled the scores in the 89th minute when Rob Street beat Connor Hall to the ball and pulled a cross back, but no one was there to divert home and the danger was cleared.
Despite five minutes of added time, The Valiants managed to see out the game and earn a crucial three points which puts us back in the automatic promotion spots.
TEAM NEWS:
Doncaster Rovers: Ted Sharman-Lowe, Jamie Sterry, James Maxwell (Brandon Fleming 59’), Joseph Olowu, Luke Molyneux (Rob Street 45’), Jordan Gibson (Joe Ironside 73’), Harry Clifton (George Broadbent 59’), Owen Bailey ©, Patrick Kelly (Kyle Hurst 59’), Jay McGrath.
Subs not used: Ian Lawlor, Tom Anderson.
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Mitch Clark (Kyle John 70’), Ben Heneghan, Connor Hall, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity © (Ethan Chislett 89’), Jason Lowe, Ryan Croasdale, Lorent Tolaj (, Ruari Paton 88’), Antwoine Hackford (Ronan Curtis 77’), Jaheim Headley (Sam Hart 77’).
Subs not used: Connor Ripley, Rico Richards.
