Strong First Half Performance Sees Vale Win in Group Cup Game
Shrewsbury Town 0 (0) v Port Vale 3 (3)
Northern Cup Group A
Tuesday 30 September 2014
SHREWSBURY TOWN: Callum Burton,Ryan Hickman (Josh Ginnelly 40), Trialist (Ben Burton 46), Mark Ellis, Trialist (Jeff Watkins 46), Anthony Griffith, James Caton, Dave McAllister, Scott Vernon, Aaron Wildig, Andy Robinson.
SUBS NOT USED:Mark Halstead, Niall Flint, Alex Fletcher, Kaiman Anderson.
PORT VALE:Sam Johnson, Nathan Smith, Reiss Greenidge, Steve Jennings, Chris Robertson, Stephane Zubar, Byron Moore, Chris Birchall (Billy Reeves 59), Ben Williamson (Dan Turner 59), Colin Daniel, Ryan Lloyd.
SUBS NOT USED:Callum Ferrie, Lewis Bergin.
An experienced Vale XI, complete with the two new signings met up with Vale old boy Anthony Griffith at the Greenhous Meadow. Vale’s line-up saw Greenidge at left back and Zubar in central defence. Vale were first on the attack with the ball falling to Moore whose 25 yard shot was safely collected by Buton.
A few minutes later and Daniel cut in from the right and his left footer from outside the box again found Burton. Shrewsbury were making little impact on getting through Vale’s defense and 2 attacks by Vale saw crosses by Lloyd.
, who buried it from 10 yards.Ben Williamson minute when Llloyd cut in and the ball ran to Birchall who shaped to shoot but slipped it sideways to thThis pressure paid off in the 12
It was still Vale doing most of the pressing and a foul on Birchall on the right eventually saw Burton saving at the foot of his post, just as the three amigos arrived. Just in case you haven’t guessed it was Norman Smurthwaite, Rob Page and Mark Grew.
minute Vale went two up as Williamson played the ball wide to Colin Daniel and his curling cross was diverted into his own net by Hickman. A Birchall cross was met with a powerful header by Daniel but the ball went just wide of the post.thIn the 25
minute saw the home team’s first corner which provided a header that Johnson collected without trouble. A minute later saw the Shrews first real chance a slick passing move saw Wildig nutmeg Smith but with only Johnson to beat he lifted it high and wide.th34
minute. Vale should have had a fourth just before halftime as Williamson was set free to run on goal but he checked 10 yards out and was closed down. th 8 yards out and he stroked it home for Vale’s third in the 36DanielFrom the goal kick Vale attacked down the right and Williamson found
Vale began the second period in the same vein and when Griffith bundled down Williamson the resulting free kick was met by Robertson’s outstretched foot and hit the diving ‘keeper to be eventually cleared. Shrewsbury came into the game for a few minutes but a long range shot was watched over the bar by Johnson and he then collected a shot that had been blocked by Greenidge.
Vale made their customary substitutions around the hour mark and Shrewsbury dominated the next five minutes with a curling shot just going past the far post by Ginnelly. Then a free kick in the middle of Vale’s half saw an opportunity for a header but a challenge from Zubar put off the attacker enough for the danger to be averted.
The pressure continued from the home team and an attacker cut in from the right but pulled his shot just past the near post; from the corner the ‘keeper was fouled and the pressure relieved.
Vale nearly got a fourth against the run of play as with a quarter of an hour to go a Vale attack saw Smith brought down on the right hand angle of the penalty box. Lloyd drove the ball at the near post and a stretching ‘keeper just got it around the post. A long ball saw Robertson and Zubar go for the same ball and only get a half touch to a header back to Johnson and he had to go down smartly at the feet of Vernon to deny him a clear run into the goal. Greenidge was soon in action making a block and then snaking out a long leg to knock the ball out for a corner before the attacker could recover.
The performance of both debutants was positive as Greenidge shone in the first half as Vale pushed forward down the right hand side of the field where he offered excellent support, showing two good, quick feet and a turn of pace.
Zubar had little to do in that first period but with Shrewsbury showing renewed effort in the second half both he and Greenidge showed good anticipation and solid defensive performances.
Report: Lindon Roberts – Port Vale Volunteers Group