Match Report from the County Ground

Saturday 2nd November 2013
Swindon Town v Port Vale
League One
At The County Ground
Attendance: 7,637 including 329 visiting supporters

SWINDON TOWN: Wes Fofferingham, Nathan Thompson, Nathan Byrne, Massimo Luongo, Grant Hall, Ryan Mason, Nile Ranger, Alex Pritchard, Dany N'Guessan, Jay Mceveley, Darren Ward. SUBS: Tyrell Belford, Louis Thompson, Jack Barthram, Lee Cox, Raphael Rossi-Branco, Nicky Ajose, Mohamed Elgabas

PORT VALE: Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Chris Robertson, Carl Dickinson, Liam Chilvers, Doug Loft,Tom Pope, Chris Lines, Ben Williamson, Anthony Griffith. SUBS: Sam Johnson, Daniel Jones, Jennison Myrie-Williams, Richard Duffy, Chris Birchall, Lee Hughes, Jordan Hugill.

Vale made just the one change for the trip to Swindon Town, with Tom Pope returning to the starting line-up after coming on as a substitute against Gillingham and scoring the winning goal - Jordan Hugill had to settle for a place on the bench.

minute when Pope fired into the side-netting.^thVale started well, playing with the wind in their faces and went close to taking the lead in the 8

A strong, blustery wind made conditions difficult for both sides whenever the ball was played in the air, but it didn’t stop Vale from having a go at their hosts.

minute when Chris Neal got down well to keep out a low drive from Ryan Mason.^thThe home side were having to soak up a spell of pressure from the Valiants, but went close themselves in the 19

GOAL: met a free kick from Jay Mceverley with a back post header to nod the Robins in front.DANY N’GUESSANIt was the home side who struck first despite all of Vale’s hard work, when

But for the ever-alert Neal in the Vale goal the home side could have doubled their lead four minutes later when N’Guessan gave Laim Chivers the slip, but the Vale ‘keeper came swiftly off his line to block.

Vale continued to press up the field but with little reward. The were managing to push the home side back, but lacked the necessary quality in the final third.

Tom Pope got his head to the ball under pressure and the ball dropped straight back down, with the Vale striker trying his luck with a volley, but sadly it flew the wrong side of the upright.

minute.^rdCarl Dickinson picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge in Swindon defender Nathan Thompson on the halfway line in the 43

Vale skipper Doug Loft got a ticking off from the referee for a challenge on the same player just moments later, but he escaped a booking.

GOAL: converted from close range.NILE RANGERSwindon started the second half the stronger of the two sides after the interval and doubled their lead in the 50th minute when

In their previous two visits to the County Ground Vale had been beaten 6-0 and 5-0 – they needed to settle things down quickly if they were to avoid a similar scoreline.

Vale were looking vulnerable early in the second half and the Robins understandably had their tails up and were looking for a quick third goal to see off Vale’s challenge.

GOAL: who switched to his left foot and drove a 20 yard shot past the unfortunate Neal in the Vale goal.MASSIMO LUONGO, minute when Thompson slipped the ball back to ^thUnfortunately from a Vale point of view, the third goal came as early as the 56

minute. Off went Carl Dickinson, Anthony Griffith and Chris Lines, with Daniel Jones, Lee Hughes and Jennison Myrie-Williams all coming off the bench.^thVale responded with a triple substitution on the 59

Lee Hughes was involved in an incident in the Swindon dugout, earning himself a yellow card – Swindon’s Frazer Digby was sent to the stand after being involved in the same incident.

GOAL: The Vale striker still had everything to do, but kept his head to slide the ball past the advancing Wes Fodderingham.TOM POPE. minute when the ball was slipped through for ^rdVale managed to pull a goal back in the 73

GOAL: took full advantage to sweep home from close range to give Vale some hope of getting something from the game.LEE HUGHES minute when the home side failed to clear and ^thVale’s never-say-die attitude was rewarded again in the 80

GOAL: which gave Chris Neal absolutely no chance of saving.NATHAN BYRNEBut the home side his back almost immediately with a superb angled drive from

GOAL: beat Chris Neal at his near post, slamming the ball home from close range.MASSIMO LUONGOSwindon completed Vale’s misery in stoppage time when