A late Lorent Tolaj penalty earned Vale a share of the points in Lancashire as the Valiants drew 1-1 with Fleetwood Town.
The game eventually burst into life ten minutes from time when Vale thought they’d gone ahead through Connor Hall but his header from point blank range was somehow saved by Jay Lynch.
The hosts then cleared and caught Vale on the counterattack which ended with Ryan Graydon bearing down on goal before rounding the keeper and slotting into the empty net. In the 93rd minute, Vale levelled from the spot after Tom Sang was fouled in the box. Lorent Tolaj stepped up and dispatched the penalty infront of the 1,101 travelling Valiants.
Darren Moore made five changes to his side following Tuesday night’s draw against Fleetwood. This included a first league start of the season for Rhys Walters who replaced Rekeem Harper in the starting XI.
The hosts started brightly and had the game’s first shot on target in the tenth minute when Louie Marsh played a nice through ball to Ryan Graydon who timed his run well but fired straight at Ben Amos who comfortably saved. Two minutes later they came close again when Elliot Bonds met a deep corner but headed wide of the near post.
Vale’s first effort came in the 18th minute when Lorent Tolaj picked up the ball in midfield before driving an effort towards goal, but it was turned behind for a corner.
Graydon came close again ten minutes before the break when some intricate play on the edge of the box allowed him space to cut inside and shoot, but his low effort was dragged wide of the upright.
Jesse Debrah’s long throw-in wasn’t cleared and it eventually fell nicely to Ryan Croasdale who sliced a half volley over the bar from just outside the box.
As the referee indicated two minutes of added time, Jesse Debrah played a lovely ball into the path of Tolaj who looked to be in on goal, but a Fleetwood defender raced across and put in an excellent sliding tackle to stop the Swiss forward in his tracks.
At the break, Darren Moore made a double change as Ronan Curtis & Mitch Clark both came on to provide with another attacking threat as they pushed for the opening goal.
These subs looked had a positive effect as the Valiants looked much brighter in the early stages of the second half. The two substitutes almost combined for the opener when Mitch Clark’s long throw found its way to Ronan Curtis who did well to get a toe on the ball, but it wasn’t enough to beat Jay lynch in the Fleetwood goal.
Moments later, the hosts had a good opportunity to take the lead when Ryan Broome’s wicked cross flashed across goal before Mackenzie Hunt poked it wide at the back post.
The best chance of the game so far came on the hour mark when a cut-back found Danny Mayor who had time and space in the box, but he could only fire his first time shot well over the crossbar.
A well-worked free kick from the right allowed Tom Sang to send in a cross that was headed wide by Nathan Smith who was eventually flagged offside.
Neither side was really working the opposition keeper, they were being restricted to shots from range. Second half sub Pheonix Patterson cut inside and struck a venomous strike from the left side which whistled past the post.
Vale were pushing for that opener and squandered another good opportunity twenty minutes from time. Tom Sang’s deep cross was headed back across goal by Mitch Clark, into the path of George Byers who didn’t connect properly with his first-time effort as it bobbled wide of the post.
Ten minutes later another good Vale chance came and went. Ronan Curtis’ header found Tolaj who burst forward, he spotted the run of Mitch Clark down the left who cut inside before firing an effort over the crossbar.
The game-defining moment came in the 82nd minute when Mitch Clark’s cross was met by Connor Hall who saw his stooping header from point-blank range somehow saved by Jay Lynch. After eventually clearing, Fleetwood caught Vale on the counterattack and when Ryan Graydon was played through on goal, he rounded the onrushing keeper before slotting into the empty net to give his side the lead.
As the referee indicated seven minutes of added time, Vale pushed for a leveller and got their reward in the third minute of added time. Tom Sang was fouled in the box and the referee showed no hesitation and pointed to the spot. Lorent Tolaj stepped up and slotted home to bring his side level in the dying embers of the game.
With a couple of extra minutes added on, Fleetwood had an excellent chance to steal the points right at the death when a deep cross fell all the way to James Bolton who was unmarked at the back post, but he could only fire over as the ball bounced up just infront of him.
The game finished all square which was probably a far result in the end, this draw maintains Vale’s unbeaten 2025 as we head to Colchester United on Tuesday night.
TEAM NEWS
Fleetwood Town: Jay Lynch, Brendan Wiredu ©, James Bolton, Elliot Bonds, Ryan Graydon, Danny Mayor (Matty Virtue 66’), Ryan Broom, Rhys Bennett, Mackenzie Hunt (Pheonix Patterson 66’), Mark Helm, Louie Marsh (Owen Davenport 66’).
Subs not used: Luke Hewitson, Brandon Cover, Harrison Neal.
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Connor Hall, Nathan Smith, George Byers ©, Ryan Croasdale (Rekeem Harper 64’), Lorent Tolaj, Tom Sang (Jerry Umolu 85’), Jesse Debrah, Antwoine Hackford (Ronan Curtis 45’), Rhys Walters (Ethan Chislett 64), Sam Hart (Mitch Clark 45’).
Subs not used: Nathan Broome, Ben Heneghan.
