The Valiants got our Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Salford City.
Salford had the better of the ball in the opening minutes of the game, but it was Vale who fashioned the first half chance as Baylee Dipepa turned his man on the byline before cutting inside, but his low cross was comfortable for Matt Young in the Salford goal.
The hosts had their first chance of the game in the 13th minute when Jon Taylor’s cross from the left was headed over by Matty Lund who had space in the box.
Four minutes later, Vale broke following a Salford corner as Jason Lowe brought the ball out from the back, his through ball found Jayden Stockley who cushioned a header down into the path of Ethan Chislett but his volley from outside the box was over the bar.
In the 23rd minute, Vale had the ball in the back of the net when Jason Lowe’s deep cross from the left was headed home at the back post by Jayden Stockley. However, the linesman had his flag up for offside.
In first half added time Vale had another goal disallowed when Baylee Dipepa played Kyle John in on goal but he was adjudged to have pulled back the defender before he slotted home past the onrushing keeper.
HALF TIME: Salford City 0-0 Port Vale
Darren Moore introduced Diamond Edwards at the break for his first Vale appearance and he made an instant impact just minutes into his debut. After picking up the ball in midfield, Edwards drove into the Salford box before taking aim towards goal. His effort took a deflection before hitting the inside of the post and nestling in the back of the net to give Vale the lead and earn him his first goal for the club.
Twelve minutes later, Salford came agonisingly close to levelling the score as Jon Taylor latched onto a long ball before getting in on goal and slotting an effort past Amos that crashed off the post before being cleared away.
On the hour mark, Vale had a third goal disallowed when Jayden Stockley stooped low to head a cross into the bottom corner, but he was adjudged to be offside.
Twenty minutes from time Vale doubled their lead thanks to great link-up play from two second half subs. Ronan Curtis drove into the heart of the Salford defence, before finding Ruari Paton who took a touch and curled an effort into the far post to grab his second goal for the club.
Three minutes from time, Vale should have added a third when Paton latched onto Curtis’ flick on. The Vale forward bared down on goal before striking straight at Matt Young who rushed off his line and saved well with his legs.
As we entered five minutes of added time, Vale came close to adding a third when Kyle John picked up the ball in midfield before taking aim with an effort that whistled over the crossbar.
FULL TIME: Salford City 0-2 Port Vale
TEAM NEWS:
Salford City: Matt Young, Tom Edwards, Stephan Negru Matthew Lund © (Liam Humbles 76’), Jon Taylor ( Robbie Cleary 69’), James Chester, Conor McAleny (Jez Davies 76’), Dan Chesters (Kelly Nmai 69’), Kyrell Malcolm, Josh Austerfield, Marcus Dackers.
Subs not used: Jamie Jones, Junior Luamba, Tosin Olopade.
Port Vale: Ben Amos, Ben Heneghan, Connor Hall © (Sam Hart 26’), George Byers (Ben Garrity 60’), Jayden Stockley (Ronan Curtis 60’), Ethan Chislett (Diamond Edwards 45’), Baylee Dipepa (Ruari Paton 65’), Jason Lowe, James Plant, Jesse Debrah, Kyle John.
Subs not used: Connor Ripley, Ben Lomax.