Ben Jackson’s goal provided the difference as the Valiants fell to a 1-0 defeat to Barrow at Vale Park on Tuesday evening to end our nine-league game unbeaten run at home.
The Bluebirds started brightly and took the lead through Ben Jackson ten minutes before the break, and although the Valiants rattled the woodwork four times and forced Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman into multiple top saves, the equaliser proved to be elusive.
Before Tuesday’s game, Darren Moore made four changes to the side that started in the weekend’s dramatic 1-0 win over Morecambe as Ben Garrity, Nathan Smith, Rekeem Harper and Antwoine Hackford returned to the starting lineup replacing Rhys Walters, Mitch Clark, Ryan Croasdale and Lorent Tolaj.
Meanwhile, Barrow head coach Andy Whing brought Dean Campbell and Connor Mahoney – who helped Vale out on Saturday by each netting a late goal as the Bluebirds came from two down to snatch a late draw against Wimbledon– into his starting 11 as two of the visitors’ three changes.
The away side made a lively opening to the game and tested Ben Amos in the Vale goal for the first time after just seven minutes of play when Kian Spence fired a long-range free kick comfortably into the hands of the Valiants keeper.
With Vale yet to grasp control of the game, Barrow came forward again on 22 minutes, this time with Jackson’s shot from the edge of the box, which looped just over the crossbar due to a vital deflection.
But it was the visitors who managed to break the deadlock with nine minutes left of the first half when a loose ball bounced to Jackson, and he drove a left-footed strike through a crowd of players in the area and into Amos’ bottom left-hand corner.
Following the opener, the first half became stop-start with eight minutes of additional time played despite the indicate three minutes, closing a frustrating half of football for the hosts.
Pushing for an equaliser, Moore implemented a triple change at the start of the second half with Rhys Walters, Ryan Croasdale and Lorent Tolaj substituted on, while Antwoine Hackford, Ronan Curtis and Rekeem Harper came off.
It was almost an instant impact from the change in personnel as, with 50 minutes on the clock, Tolaj rifled a left-footed free kick from distance towards the bottom corner, but it was parried away strongly by Farman in the Barrow net.
After finding a piece of momentum, the Valiants came close to an equaliser once more five minutes later through another Tolaj set piece. This one came from the right side and the Swiss forward smashed it agonisingly off the outside of Farman’s post and behind.
It continued to be all Vale, and somehow Moore’s squad still found themselves behind on 72 minutes after Jesse Debrah’s aerial attempt which was drifting towards the far post was clawed away by a backpedalling Farman.
Entering the closing stages of the contest, it looked to be a night that the ball just wouldn’t go in for the Valiants with Jayden Stockley and Ben Garrity both crashing headed efforts off the woodwork within the span of a minute.
First, with 14 minutes remaining the visitors failed to clear a dangerous cross into the box and Stockley flicked a header towards the far corner, which bounced off the post and into Farman’s arms. Moments later, captain Garrity left the crossbar rattling after he connected in the air with a cross from the left.
Time was running out for Vale, and Farman produced more heroics to deny Moore’s men from finding a way through in the 86th minute when Stockley’s header looked destined to ruffle the net but was pushed onto the underside of the bar by the Bluebirds number one.
The Valiants piled pressure on in the final moments and thought they deserved to be awarded a penalty after Croasdale was bundled off the ball as he burst into the area, but referee Zac Kennard-Ette waved play on.
Contentiously, Vale were only given four more minutes at the end of the 90 to attempt to level the scores, but Barrow defended resolutely to hang on for all three points.
Next up for the Valiants is a trip to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday at 12.30pm.
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Connor Hall, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity ©, Jayden Stockley, Ronan Curtis (Ryan Croasdale 46’), Tom Sang (Rico Richards 75’), Jesse Debrah, Kyle John (Mitch Clark 75’), Antwoine Hackford (Rhys Walters 46’), Rekeem Harper (Lorent Tolaj 46’)
Subs not used: Nathan Broome, Sam Hart
Booked: N/A
Barrow: Paul Farman, Dean Campbell, Kyle Cameron, Niall Canavan ©, Kian Spence (MJ Williams 45+7’), Elliot Newby, Robbie Gotts, Sam Foley, Emile Acquah (Aaron Pressley 68’), Connor Mahoney (Tyler Smith 68’), Ben Jackson
Subs not used: Wyll Stanway, Isaac Fletcher, Ben Whitfield
Booked: Andy Whing (Head Coach)
