The Valiants continued their unbeaten start to 2025 as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Vale Park with Harrogate Town on Tuesday evening, despite being the dominant side.
Vale started brightly and should have maybe taken the lead within minutes of the game kicking off. The Valiants had numerous chances throughout the first half, but couldn’t quite manage to find the opening goal.
The second half was a lot quieter than the first, with Harrogate looking dangerous on the counterattack, but Vale just couldn’t make their pressure count, and the points were shared.
Vale boss Darren Moore made three changes to the side that drew with Tranmere Rovers at the weekend, with Mitch Clark, Lorent Tolaj and Jack Shorrock all coming into the starting eleven, seeing Antwoine Hackford, Jesse Debrah and Sam Hart drop to the bench.
The visitors, under the management of Simon Weaver, made four changes from their recent victory over Accrington Stanley, with the most noticeable change being a first Harrogate start for Tom Cursons.
It was the Valiants who started on the front foot and had the first chances of the game in quick succession. Firstly, Curtis got on the end of John’s cross, who’s effort took a deflection and went just over the crossbar for a corner. The resulting corner was met by Tolaj, but his header tamely hit the top of the crossbar and went behind for a goal kick.
A quiet ten minutes followed and then Vale burst into life. Tolaj laid a neat lay off to Harper who was looking for his second league goal of the season. Harper let fly from 12 yards out, but his effort was well saved by James Belshaw.
Harper again tested Belshaw with twenty minutes played. The midfielder took aim from twenty-five yards, but his low effort was tipped around the post by Belshaw.
Following three additional minutes, Sam Allison brought the first half to a close, with Vale very much the dominant side.
The second half began with Harrogate having their best opportunity of the game. Tom Hill drove forward from midfield and fired a right-footed shot straight at Amos, eighteen yards from goal.
Vale’s pressure continued into the second half, with Curtis and Tolaj linking up well to cause the Harrogate Town defence problems, but the Valiants were still missing that all-important opening goal.
Harrogate continued to look dangerous on the counter as the half ticked on, creating a couple of good opportunities through Ellis Taylor down their left-hand side, only to be denied by Amos.
With under twenty minutes to play, the boss made his first changes of the game, when Rico Richards, Sam Hart and Jemiah Umolu entering the field for Jack Shorrock, Kyle John and Rekeem Harper.
Vale almost got their deserved goal eight minutes from time. Smith headed the ball across goal finding the feet of Umolu twelve yards out, but his effort went agonisingly wide of the post.
Deep into five minutes of stoppage time at the end of the game, Richards went through on goal for Vale and was brought down. However, referee Allison decided against giving a free-kick and brought the game to a close leaving Vale sixth in Sky Bet League Two.
Up next for the Vale is a trip to Fleetwood Town on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off)
Port Vale: Amos, Clark, Hall, Smith, Byers ©, Curtis, Croasdale, Tolaj, Shorrock (Hart 73’), John (Umolu 74’), Harper (Richards 74’)
Subs not used: Broome, Chislett, Debrah, Hackford
Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Moon, Burrell ©, Cornelius, Sims, Sutton, Hill (Dooley 69’), Bilongo, Taylor, Cursons (Solomon 87’), Morris
Subs not used: Oxley, Asare, Gibson, Falkingham, Daly
Booked: Cursons, Sims
