Ten-man Port Vale defeat Accrington Stanley 2-1 in a Sky Bet League Two clash at Vale Park.
The Valiants got the game underway at Vale Park and had a chance to open the scoring straight away. A corner from the right-hand side fell to Jayden Stockley but his effort was blocked.
Stockley did open the scoring moments later for the vale. An excellent cross into the box by Tom Sang was met by the striker and his header nestled into the bottom left corner.
Darren Moore’s side were reduced to ten men thirteen minutes into the game when Tom Sang was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Ashley Hunter.
Following a stop-start first half, Vale went into the break a goal to the good thanks to a Jayden Stockley header.
Half-time: Port Vale 1-0 Accrington Stanley
The visitors got the game back underway and found a leveller five minutes into the second half. After a goalmouth scramble the ball was eventually poked home by half-time substitute Tyler Walton.
The ten men of Port Vale regained the lead shortly after Accrington’s equaliser. A through ball from Ben Garrity was latched onto by Lorent Tolaj and the striker finished calmly over the Stanley keeper Billy Crellin.
Donald Love came close to drawing Accrington level once more just past the hour mark. A delicate chip over the vale defence was met by the defender and he forced a smart save out of Ben Amos in the vale goal.
The gaffer made his first change of the afternoon with George Byers replacing Rekeem Harper.
A second change followed with just over ten minutes to play. Jayden Stockley made way for Jeremiah Umolu, with the striker making his Port Vale debut.
Accrington nearly found their equaliser five minutes from time. Ben Woods took aim from outside the penalty area, but his effort was well saved by Amos and the ball was eventually cleared by Connor Hall.
On the stroke of the ninetieth minute, Ben Heneghan entered the field for goalscorer of the second goal Lorent Tolaj.
The Vale came so close to getting that all-important third goal in stoppage time. A smart through ball from Umolu played Garrity through on goal, but his effort was saved by the on-rushing Billy Crellin in the Stanley goal.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Port Vale Starting XI: Ben Amos, Connor Hall, Nathan Smith, Ben Garrity ©, Jayden Stockley (80’ Jeremiah Umolu), Ryan Croasdale, Lorent Tolaj (88’ Ben Heneghan), Tom Sang, Kyle John, Jaheim Headley, Rekeem Harper (68’ George Byers).
Unused Substitutions: Nathan Broome, Ethan Chislett, Ronan Curtis, Antwoine Hackford
Accrington Stanley Starting XI: Billy Crellin, Donald Love, Farrend Rawson (58’ Devon Matthews), Liam Coyle, Shaun Whalley ©, Ben Woods, Kelsey Mooney (46’ Tyler Walton), Benn Ward, Jake Batty (86’ Connor O’Brien), Sonny Aljofree (79’ Charlie Brown), Ashley Hunter.
Unused Substitutions: Michael Kelly, Alex Henderson, Seamus Conneely.
Author: Reuben Morris, UCFB
