Stafford Rangers 1 Port Vale 3

Vale’s pre-season preparations continued with another victory, this time with the 3-1 defeat of Stafford Rangers at Marston Road, but they conceded for the fist time so far.

Vale could have conceded as early as the third minute when Gareth Owen gave away a penalty, but Sam Johnson dived to his left to keep out Danny Quinn’s spot kick.

Tom Pope was denied an opening goal when his goal-bound header blocked on the line on ten minutes, but Vale edged in front seven minutes later.

Kris Taylor, Vale’s former left back who is currently training with the club, cut in from the left before pulling the ball back for Louis Dodds, who stroked the ball inside Adam Allcock’s left hand upright.

The home side struck the woodwork ten minutes before half time when Courtney Pitt curled a free kick around Vale’s defensive wall, only to see his shot strike Johnson’s left hand post.

Vale added a second goal just before half time when Jennison Myrie-Williams was upended inside the area and he elected to take the spot kick himself, sending the Stafford ‘keeper the wrong way.

Thirteen minutes after thee half time interval the home side pulled a goal back – the first Vale have conceded in their pre-season games – when Jermaine Johnson nodded home at the far post.

minute was well saved, but Vale regained their two-goal advantage just seconds later when Tom Pope controlled with his chest before slotting home.^rdA curling free kick from Ryan Burge in the 63

Vale had numerous opportunities to add further goals to their total but in the end were happy that again eleven players managed to get ninety minutes under their belts.