Games of two halves as Vale suffer defeat
PORT VALE: Sam Johnson, Chris Shuker, Anthony Griffith, Ben Williamson, Ryan Lloyd, Lee Hughes, Jennison Myrie-WilliamsSUBS:Chris Neal, Daniel Jones, Chris Lines, Chris Robertson, Liam Chilvers, Doug Loft, Louis Dodds, Tom Pope, Gavin Tomlin, Kaid Mohamed, Richard Duffy.
DERBY COUNTY: John Brayford, Adam Legzdins, Richard Keogh, Jake Buxton, Craig Forsyth, Paul Coutts, Chris Martin, Will Hughes, Jamie Ward, Craig Bryson, Johnny Russell.SUBS:Lee Grant, Kieron Freeman, Michael Hoganson, John Eustace, Valentin Gjokaj, James O’Connor, Ben Davies, Nathan Tyson, Conor Sammon, Jeff Hendrick, Michael Jacobs.
ATTENDANCE:2,408 including 663 visiting supporters
Vale faced their sternest test of the pre-season so far as they hosted Championship Derby County in their opening game at Vale Park.
The Rams included new signings, Craig Forsyth, Chris Martin and Johnny Russell in their numbers as Nigel Clough aimed to give most of his squad a run at some point in the game.
Derby took an early lead when MICHAEL JACOBS was upended inside the box and the same player beat Chris Neal from the penalty spot.
, who gave Lee Grant no chance.TOM POPE minute when a perfectly executed free kick from Chris Lines was met at the back post by thVale were on level terms in the 15
minute Jacobs forced an excellent save from Chris Neal, who had to go full stretch to palm an angled drive away.ndThe game was fairly even, but in the 22
six yards from goal on 28 minutes.CHRIS ROBERTSONVale got their noses in front for the first time in the game when a right wing corner from Lines was met by a firm header by
was quick to take advantage of a poor back pass, keeping his composure to slot the ball past an advancing Grant to double his tally for the night and stretch Vale’s lead.POPETwo minutes later
Each goalkeeper made terrific saves within the space of a minute to keep the score the same. Firstly Neal denied Tyson with a fingertip save.
Seconds later Vale skipper Loft was thwarted by Grant, who dived to his right to push a well-hit volley around the post.
Vale made a change at the commencement of the second half with Joe Davis replacing Liam Chilvers in the heart of the Vale defence.
hit an absolute screamer from outside the box into the top corner of the net, much to the delight of the travelling supporters behind the goal.MICHAEL HOGANSONRams’ defender
The visitors looked to have stepped things up a notch and were causing Vale a few problems and sure enough, they pulled themselves level three minutes later.
JEFF HENDRICKhit a sweet shot into the opposite top corner this time with a strike to compare with his team mate’s blinder just three minutes earlier.
Derby replaced their entire back for on the hour, with John Brayford, Richard Keogh, Jake Buxton and Craig Forsyth all coming off the bench.
minute when he showed clever feet inside the box, but slipped his angled shot just wide of the far upright.thNathan Tyson almost restored Derby’s lead in the 64
minute of the game, determined to give as many players as he could a run out.thNigel Clough then made six further changes in the 66
Faced with ten sets of fresh legs, Vale were beginning to look a little jaded with the visitors threatening to pull them apart.
slammed the ball home.JOHNNY RUSSELL minute when summer signing thSure enough Derby got their fourth in the 74
minute Vale made four changes.thA minute later Derby made their eleventh change, when goalkeeper Adam Legzdins came on for Grant, and in the 77
On came Lee Hughes, Chris Shuker, Ben Wiliamson and Jennison Myrie-Williams, with Pope, Dodds, Mohamed and Tomlin going the other way.
Five minutes later Ryan Lloyd and ‘new’ signing Anthony Griffith came on for Chris Lines and Doug Loft.
CRAIG FORSYTH minute, turning sharply to hammer the ball home from close range.rdextended Derby’s lead in the 83