Vale open their pre-season programme with a win
Vale began life under manager Bruno Ribiero with a victory in their opening pre-season game against Newcastle Town with all four of their goals being scored in the second half.
The new Vale boss had said that he wants his side to ‘play football’ this season and it soon became apparent that he has installed just that into his players.
Vale knocked the ball around in style right from the kick off and whilst that in itself didn’t put the home side under pressure, it was certainly good on the eye.
New signing Paulo Tavares stood out in the centre of the park and he was hungry for the ball, receiving it on numerous occasions and showing he could well be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Rigino Cicilia, a tall striker plying up front, showed that although he could well be a threat in the air this season, he has good feet and one particular bit of footwork drew applause from the Vale support.
Christopher MbAmba, whose move to the club is expected to be completed on Monday after he put pen to paper on Friday afternoon, was unfortunate not to fire hoe after stretching to get onto a through ball from Anthony Grant.
Cicilia fired just inches wide of the post and Sam Foley really ought to have hit the target when presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to fire Vale in front with a close range effort, but it was surely just a matter of time before Vale were rewarded with a goal.
Vale made the ten planned changes at the start of the second half, with just goalkeeper Harry Pickering remaining in the eleven out there on the pitch.
Twelve minutes into the second half Vale took the lead when Ryan Lloyd’s cross from the left was met at the far post by trialist Anton Forrester, who gratefully nodded home from close range.
Two minutes later JJ Hooper sent a message to the new manager when he drove a twenty yard shot hard and low past Newcastle ‘keeper Aaron Dillon to double Vale’s lead.
Vale weren’t finished there and a further four minutes on they increased their lead, Forrester netting again when he met a low cross from Quentin Pereira to tap home.
The game continued to follow a similar pattern and it came as no surprise when Vale got their fourth, this time Ryan Lloyd finishing off from inside the six-yard box.