Valiants held to 0-0 draw against Cheltenham Town in Sky Bet League Two on New Year's Day.
Before the game got underway at Vale Park, there was a remembrance service to remember the Port Vale and Cheltenham fans who sadly passed away in 2024.
The Vale had an excellent chance to take the lead two minutes into the match. Lorent Tolaj was played through by Ronan Curtis, who then laid the ball to Kyle John, but his first-time effort was hit straight at the Cheltenham goalkeeper.
Vale had another great chance six minutes later. It was Curtis causing the Cheltenham defence problems again when his looped cross was met by Lorent Tolaj. However, his headed effort was tipped around the post by Joe Day for a Vale corner, which came to nothing.
Cheltenham’s first real opportunity of the game came just after the fifteen-minute mark. After a succession of crosses, the ball fell to Luke Young just outside the penalty area who took aim, but his effort flew just over the crossbar.
The visitors threatened to score again ten minutes later when Jordan Thomas got past his man inside the penalty box but fired his close-range effort over the crossbar.
Vale came close to opening the scoring two minutes later. Kyle John latched onto a knockdown from Ronan Curtis and let fly from eighteen yards out, but his attempt went inches wide of the post.
Two huge chances for Vale followed, first Ronan Curtis was played one-on-one, but his low effort was saved by the goalkeeper. Then a Ben Garrity effort saw the ball loop over the Cheltenham defence and Lorent Tolaj acrobatically prodded the ball towards goal, but just missed the mark.
Half-time: Port Vale 0-0 Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham made a lightning-quick start to the second half. Jordan Thomas was released down the right flank and got a shot away, only for the ball to sail into the travelling supporters behind the goal.
The gaffer made his first changes of the afternoon with an hour played. Lorent Tolaj and Ben Garrity made way for Antwoine Hackford and Ethan Chislett.
The visiting side almost took the lead shortly after the substitutions. The ball came to Luke Young on the edge of the box and his attempt took a deflection, which seemed to have beaten Ben Amos, but the ball rolled past the post.
Ronan Curtis had a good chance to give Vale the all-important lead with just over twenty minutes to play. Antwoine Hackford beat his man on the right wing and laid it off the Curtis, whose shot was well parried away by Joe Day in the Cheltenham goal.
Ben Amos produced an outstanding save moments later. A free kick from the left hand side was met by Sam Stubbs and his powerful header was tipped onto the crossbar and over by the Vale keeper.
Ruari Paton came within inches of winning the game for Vale in stoppage time. His free-kick attempt looked like it was going into the top corner but went just over the crossbar.
Full-time: Port Vale 0-0 Cheltenham Town
Port Vale Starting XI: Ben Amos, Ben Heneghan, Connor Hall, Nathan Smith (Sam Hart 82’), Ben Garrity © (Ethan Chislett 60’), Ronan Curtis (Ruari Paton 86’), Ryan Croasdale, Lorent Tolaj (Antwoine Hackford 60’), Kyle John, Rico Richards, Brandon Cover
Unused Substitutions: Connor Ripley, Mitch Clark, Jason Lowe
Cheltenham Town starting XI: Joe Day, Liam Kinsella, Tom Bradbury, Luke Young, Ryan Bowman (Matt Taylor 66’), Jordan Thomas, Joel Colwill, Scott Bennett © (Arkell Jude-Boyd 66’), Ethon Archer (Liam Dulson 86’), Sam Stubbs, Lewis Payne
Unused Substitutions: Owen Evans, Ibrahim Bakare, Tom Pett, George Miller
Author: Reuben Morris, UCFB
