Port Vale continued to stake their claim for an automatic promotion place following a 2-0 win over second-placed Bradford City at Vale Park on Tuesday.
The Valiants defeat Bradford at Vale Park courtesy of two first half goals by Lorent Tolaj and Mitch Clark. Ben Amos saved a late penalty to preserve all three points and cap off an excellent defensive performance from Vale.
Following the 1-0 derby day win against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday, Darren Moore made one change to his starting eleven. Tom Sang dropped out of the squad, with him being replaced by youngster Jack Shorrock.
Meanwhile, Graham Alexander made three changes to his side following the 0-0 draw away at Accrington Stanley last time out. Alexander Pattison, Ciaran Kelly and Paul Huntington all came into the starting eleven replacing Romoney Crichlow-Noble, Neill Byrne and Brandon Khela.
The visitors got the game underway at Vale Park, but no team took real control of the game in the opening ten minutes.
With eleven minutes on the clock, Vale broke down the right-hand side through Croasdale. Croasdale’s pass found Tolaj who took on his man and let fly on that dangerous left foot. The shot got a deflection, and the ball looped over the keeper, onto the crossbar and into the back of the net, giving Vale the lead!
Vale won the ball back straight away from kick off before Garrity broke towards the penalty area. Garrity got his shot away eighteen yards out, but his effort was straight at the Bradford goalkeeper.
With Vale very much in the ascendency, the visitors had a rare break towards the Vale goal. Halliday got onto the ball just outside of the box and took aim towards goal. His effort was a low one and went wide of Amos’ right post.
Bradford broke again down Vale’s right side. A cross from the right by Lapslie was gathered in the box by Wright. Wright turned and got his shot away, but it was a tame effort and Amos gathered easily.
Vale made their dominance count as they doubled their lead just past the half-hour mark! A wicked cross by Shorrock from the left side was aimed towards Clark, who had made a darting run from the right. Clark met the ball perfectly and headed the Valiants into a 2-0 lead.
Vale were not resting on what they had and looked for a third. A long throw from Clark found its way to Stockley. On the half-volley, Stockley got his shot away, but his effort spun into the grateful hands of Walker in the Bradford goal.
The half time whistle followed shortly after and Vale into the break with a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Tolaj and Clark.
The Valiants got proceedings back underway at Vale Park, with the second half starting similarly to the first.
Bradford had their first shot on target of the second half just shy of the hour mark. A neat bit of play on Bradford’s left resulted in Kavanagh receiving the ball just outside of the penalty area. Kavanagh got his shot away, but it was straight into the hands of Amos.
Bradford came within inches of grabbing a goal back with just over twenty minutes to play. A sliced effort from Halliday deflected off his own player and trickled wide of the post.
Despite being under some pressure from the restart, Vale created a chance of their own. Tolaj found himself in space following a Clarke throw in. Tolaj took the ball past a Bradford defender and got his shot away, only for it to straight at the Bradford keeper.
With Vale hanging on, the visitors were awarded a penalty. Smallwood stepped up and shot towards the bottom left corner. His effort though was brilliantly saved by Amos who was determined to keep his clean sheet.
Following six minutes of added time and a brilliant display from the Vale, the referee brought the game to a close and the Valiants deservedly brought home all three points lifting them into the automatic promotion places!
Up next for Darren Moore’s side is another huge game, with a trip to Walsall on Saturday (12:30pm Kick Off).
Port Vale: Amos, Clark, Hall, Smith, Garrity ©, Stockley (Curtis 85’), Croasdale, Tolaj, Debrah, Shorrock (Hart 59’), Walters (Chislett 70’)
Subs not used: Broome, Lowe, Richards, Hackford
Booked: Amos, Tolaj
Bradford City: Walker, Halliday (Walker 84’), Smallwood, Kavanagh, Baldwin, Pattison, Wright, Kelly, Huntington (Shepherd 46’), Lapslie (Mellon 71’), Adaramola (Pointon 46’)
Subs not used: Hilton, Byrne, Khela
Booked: Halliday, Baldwin, Smallwood, Mellon
