The Valiants remain top of Sky Bet League Two after an impressive victory over Fleetwood Town at Vale Park.
Vale created the first chance of the game eight minutes in when Rico Richards broke loose in the Fleetwood half before being taken down on the edge of the box. Ethan Chislett took the resulting free kick, and the Cods’ number one David Harrington tipped the curling effort off the bar and over.
The Valiants continued their bright start as just four minutes later they had another opportunity to go in front. A well-worked corner routine ended with the ball at the feet of an unmarked Richards in the penalty area, who saw his low strike get deflected narrowly to the right of Harrington’s far post.
The chances kept on coming for the Whites with Brandon Cover and Richards causing major problems down the right-hand side. On the quarter-hour mark, Cover threaded through Richards and the midfielder flashed a ball into the six-yard box which was turned behind off the post by a covering Cods defender.
After surviving a dominant opening 20 minutes from Vale, the away side grew into the contest and threatened Connor Ripley’s goal for the first time in the 26th minute with a shot from Phoenix Patterson which curved just wide.
The Valiants deservedly broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Cover pounced on a slip by Kayden Hughes in the visitor’s defence, then burst forward and slipped the ball through to Jayden Stockley, who pulled it back to Richards in the middle, and he slotted home cooly.
The visitors took little time to find a response as on 36 minutes Phoenix Patterson swung a cross from the left towards the back post, where Carl Johnston arrived on the volley and fired into the far corner to level the score.
Vale looked like they had retaken the lead in the final minute of injury time as Chislett slotted the ball through the legs of Harrington and into the Fleetwood net, however, the South African was ruled to be offside.
The second half started quietly until the game sparked into life just past the hour mark with two big chances for the away side.
First, in the 62nd minute Ronan Coughlan beat the offside trap to go through one-on-one against Ripley, but Vale’s stopper produced a brilliant save with his legs to deny the forward. Moments later, Ryan Graydon found himself with a similar opportunity, but he scuffed the shot and Ripley collected comfortably.
On 66 minutes – moments after the Cods squandered those golden opportunities – Vale regained the lead. Substitute Benicio made an instant impact as he received the ball down the right before teeing up Ryan Croasdale on the edge of the box, who shrugged off his man and struck powerfully past Harrington.
The Valiants added to their advantage on 73 minutes when second-half substitute Ronan Curtis arrived at the end of a terrific cross by captain Ben Garrity and thumped home with his head to secure all three points for Vale.
Port Vale: Connor Ripley, Connor Hall, Ben Garrity, Jayden Stockley (Antwoine Hackford 75), Ethan Chislett (Benicio Baker-Boaitey 65’), Ryan Croasdale (Jason Lowe 86’), Tom Sang, Jesse Debrah, Jack Shorrock, Rico Richards (Ronan Curtis 65’), Brandon Cover
Unused Subs: Ben Amos, Ben Heneghan, Lorent Tolaj
Fleetwood Town: David Harrington, Carl Johnston (Kian Harratt 82’), Brendan Wiredu, Elliot Bonds, Ryan Graydon (Mackenzie Hunt 82’), Matty Virtue (Mipo Odubeko 65’), Danny Mayor, Rhys Bennett, Ronan Coughlan (Mark Helm 65’), Kayden Hughes (Ryan Broom 82’), Phoenix Patterson
Unused Subs: Jay Lynch, Liam Shaw
Author: Matt Carville, University of Staffordshire