Jamille Matt’s second-half goal proves to be enough as Valiants lose tight contest at a blustery Vale Park.
With an electric atmosphere inside Vale Park, it was the Valiants who made the brighter start to the game as six minutes in Rekeem Harper unleashed a strike from the edge of the area, but his effort deflected narrowly wide of the Walsall goal.
Vale carved out the best move of the half on the 20-minute mark after a sequence of quick passes ended with Ronan Curtis threading Rico Richards through on goal, who curled to the wrong side of Tommy Simkin’s far post. However, it wouldn’t have counted as the flag was up for offside.
The visitors’ first clear-cut chance of the contest came after half an hour of play when a breaking ball landed at the feet of Ryan Stirk and the midfielder flashed a shot wide of Connor Ripley’s net.
Both sides struggled with the conditions provided by Storm Darragh, but the wind nearly worked in Walsall’s favour on 34 minutes. Taylor Allen swung in a corner from the right, which was blown goalwards, rattling the crossbar before it was eventually cleared.
The visitors had another opportunity to open the scoring two minutes before the break. Ripley palmed away an initial delivery by Allen, but the rebound fell into the path of Charlie Lakin, who had his strike charged down crucially by Brandon Cover.
HALF TIME: PORT VALE 0-0 WALSALL
The Saddlers broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half through another Allen corner which wasn’t initially dealt with. From his set piece, the ball fell to Jamille Matt and despite Ripley parrying the Walsall captain’s point-blank attempt into the air, it looped into the back of the net.
Five minutes later, Ripley made a big save to keep the Valiants in the match. David Okagbue dispossessed Ethan Chislett deep in Vale territory and slipped Nathan Lowe in behind, but Ripley produced a stunning low stop to maintain the one goal deficit.
The Valiants almost found an equaliser on two occasions in the 73rd minute. First, Sam Hart fizzed a long-range shot goalwards which trickled off a Saddlers defender and behind. Jayden Stockley rose highest from the resulting corner but steered his aerial effort over the crossbar.
Darren Moore’s side continued to push for a leveller and had one final chance in the 90th minute as Jesse Debrah’s cross from the left was met at the back post by Ruari Paton, but the substitute headed too high.
HALF TIME: PORT VALE 0-1 WALSALL
TEAM NEWS
Port Vale: Connor Ripley, Connor Hall ©, Ethan Chislett (Ruari Paton 63’), Ronan Curtis, Ryan Croasdale (George Byers 69’), Tom Sang, Jesse Debrah, Rico Richards (Antwoine Hackford 77’), Brandon Cover (Jayden Stockley 63’), Sam Hart, Rekeem Harper (Kyle John 77’)
Unused Substitutes: Ben Amos, Ben Heneghan
Walsall: Tommy Simkin, Connor Barrett, Liam Gordon, Nathan Lowe, Charlie Lakin, Jamille Matt © (Albert Adomah 80’), George Hall, Taylor Allen, Harry Williams, Ryan Stirk, David Okagbue
Unused Substitutes: Sam Hornby, Oisin McEntee, Donervon Daniels, Jack Earing, Evan Weir Danny Johnson
