MATCH REPORT: Vale v Sheffield United

Vale celebrated Christmas in style with another three points on a snowy afternoon in Burslem, with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.

minute lead and Vale had generally the better of things for the remainder of the first half.^thBen Williamson gave Vale a 16

minute, but were on level terms shortly after half time when Campbell-Ryce slammed home from close-range.^thThe visitors were forced to play the entire of the second half with ten men after Chris Basham received a red card in the 44

minute, Dany N’Guessan celebrated his new contract with a goal from the penalty spot to sew up the points for the Vale.^thBut when Bob Harris upended Mark Marshall inside the box in the 78

Midfielder Chris Lines returned from a three-match suspension but he had to settle for a place on the bench as Rob Page went with the same starting eleven who performed so well during the win at Crawley in Vale’s previous match.

Vale certainly looked ‘up for it’ right from the kick off and former Blade Michael Brown showed his determination to do well with two early biting tackles inside the centre circle.

minute when Vale edged in front.^thBoth sides had spells of pressure, pressing hard for an opener, but the the two defences stood firm until the 16

GOAL: was on hand to apply the finishing touch right under the noses of the large contingent of visiting supporters.BEN WILLIAMSONMark Marshall rolled the ball into the box from a corner kick on the right, Dany N’Guessan hit it towards goal and  

The visitors came close to an equaliser just a couple of minutes later when Chris Neal found himself going the wrong way when a shot from the visitors took a wicked deflection, but the Vale ‘keeper somehow twisted his body to make a superb save, palming the ball away to his left.

minute when he got down sharply to deny Stefan Scougill’s close range effort with a save to grace any football ground in the country.^thNeal was at it again in the 28

minute when Michael O’Connor put the ball into the United box from the left, Dany N’Guessan got up well to power a header towards goal, but Harrison McGahey was on hand to hack the ball off the line.^thVale went close to doubling their lead in the 34

Then, when Jamal Campbell-Ryce managed to work his way to the byeline at the other end, Blades’ defender Chris Basham’s near-post header flashed just inches wide of the target.

minute, things worsened for the Blades when they were reduced to ten men.^thDespite the visitors’ strong start to the game, it was Vale who had bossed most of the opening forty five minutes and in the 44

12 yards inside the Vale half saw the United man banished to the stands after receiving a deserved red card.Chris BashamA rash tackle on Michael Brown by central defender

Vale expected to have to defend at the beginning of the second half and they were not disappointed as the visitors pressed hard, but it was the home defence who came out on top and before long Vale were on the attack once again.

Vale players appealed loudly for a penalty kick when McGahey appeared to have handled inside the box but they had to settle for a corner and from the flag kick Louis Dodds went close with a powerful header.

GOAL: netted from close range to give his side a deserved lift.JAMAL CAMPBELL-RYCEHowever, the Blades were soon on level terms when the Vale defence were exposed and  

Despite that setback, Vale continued to pour forward, looking to get their noses back in front with wave after wave of attacks, but the visitors looked extremely dangerous on the break.

minute, with Louis Dodds going the other way.^thMidfielder Chris Lines returned to the action when he came off the bench in the 74

minute by Bob Harris.^thVale were presented with the perfect opportunity to re-take lead when Mark Marshall was brought down in the box in the 78

GOAL: DANY N’GUESSANplaced the ball on the spot before hitting it to Mark Howard’s right. The Blades’ ‘keeper guessed correctly and got a touch, but there was too much power on the shot and Vale were once again in front.

minute when Vale went for the fresh legs of Colin Daniel as the snow continued to fall heavily over Vale Park.^thN’Guessan was replaced in the 84

The visiytors fought desperately for an equaliser but it wasn’t to be and Vale finished with a well-deserved three points to give everybody in Burslem something else to celebrate over Christmas.

PORT VALE: Sam Johnson, Chris Robertson, Chris Birchall, Chris Lines, Colin Daniel, Alex Nimely, Achille Campion. SUBS: Chris Neal, Adam Yates, Fredi Veseli, Richard Duffy, Carl Dickinson, Louis Dodds, Michael O’Connor, Michael Brown, Mark Marshall, Ben Wiliamson, Dany N’Guessan.  

SHEFFIELD UNITED:
Jose Baxter, Marc McNulty, Michael Higdon, Louis Reed, Iain Turner, Paddy McCarthy, Che Adams  SUBS: Mark Howard, Bob Harris, Chris Basham, Michael Doyle, Jamie Murphy, Stefan Scougall, Harrison McGahey, Jay McEverley, Jamal Campbell-Rice, Chris O’Grady, Flo Cuvelier.   

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There will be a full match report on the official website moments after the final whistle, with player and manager interviews to come later.

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