REPORT: Vale v Oldham
Attendance: 3,152 including 148 visitors
League One
At Vale Park
Tuesday 22nd November 2016
Port Vale v Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic managed to squeeze a point from the game with a late-late equaliser at Vale Park, but in truth it was no more than they deserved after a battling display by Steve Robinson’s men.
The Latics had taken the lead three minutes after the interval with a rather fortuitous goal – Oliver Banks’ free kick taking a deflection to wrong-foot Vale ‘keeper Jack Alnwick.
minute, but the visitors kept plugging away and got a deserved point right at the death.thThree minutes later Remie Streete headed home his fifth goal of the season to level the scores, then substitute Rigino Cicilia Put the Valiants in the driving seat, netting from close range in the 78
Vale made two changes for the visit of struggling Oldham Athletic, one of them enforced with Jerome Thomas out injured and Sebastien Amoros found himself back on the bench.
In came Martin Paterson and Anton Forrester as Bruno Ribiero went with a much called for two ‘up top’ supported by Alex Jones out wide on the right – a position which had previously proved quite fruitful for him.
The visitors came into the game having failed to score in five of their previous six league fixtures, but overall with an impressive defensive record, bettered by only four teams in League One.
Despite their lack of goals so far this season, it was the Latics who went closest to an early goal, twice having close-range efforts blocked when they looked odds on to take the lead.
By all accounts they had enough opportunities in their previous match – against leaders Scunthorpe United – to win the game comfortably, finally going down to a solitary goal ten minutes from time.
That suggested Vale may well need to be patient in their approach and not get too anxious should they not get an early goal themselves.
Vale were having their work cut out against an impressive looking Oldham side who were playing deep inside the Vale half, causing the home side numerous problems.
The visitors almost took the lead when former Vale loanee, now the Oldham skipper, Peter Clarke headed powerfully from close range, but Alnwick was on his toes and dived to his right to push the ball around his upright.
Vale gradually began to build and put some pressure on at the other end and Sam Kelly went close with a fierce low drive from outside the box which wasn’t too far off the mark.
Kjell Knops needed treatment after going up for a header alongside fellow defender Nathan Smith and getting a crack on the head for his troubles. He lay motionless for a few moments, but thankfully he was able to continue.
Vale were forced into a change on 40 minutes when Anton Forrester went off with an injury and he was replaced by Kiko.
Oliver Banks went close with forty-five minutes played after Paulo Tavares had given the ball away needlessly. The Oldham man hit a rising drive from twenty yards over Jak Alnwick’s crossbar.
GOAL: took a wicked deflection off the Vale wall to deceive Alnwick in the Vale goal.Oliver Banks minute with only their tenth league goal of the season when a free kick taken by thThe visitors started the second half brightly and took the lead in the 48
GOAL:, whose downward header gave Connor Ripley no chance.REMIE STREETThree minutes later Vale were on level terms when Ryan Taylor’s free kick from the Vale left was met by
minute, introducing Rigino Cicilia as a replacement for Martin Paterson as the Valiants looked to unsettle the visitors’ defence.thVale made a substitution in the 59
By now Vale were looking more menacing, forcing the visitors back deep inside their own half for prolonged periods, lifting the spirits of the home crowd.
GOAL: to stab home.RIGINO CICILIAVale finally got the goal they had been looking for when Ripley made a fine save to keep out Alex Jones, pushing the ball out to his right and it was knocked back inside by substitute Quentin Pereira for
minute when a dipping shot from just outside the corner of the 18 yard box by Oldham substitute Lee Erwin dipped sharply and bounced off the top of the Vale crossbar.thVale had a scare in the 85
GOAL: earned the visitors a valuable point, turning the ball in from close range to send the travelling supporters into raptures.Carl WinchesterIn the fifth minute of stoppage time
PORT VALE: Miguel Santos, Kiko, Sebastien Amoros, Calvin Mac-Intosch, Chris Mbamba, Rigino CiciliaSUBS:Jak Alnwick, Ryan Taylor, Remie Streete, Nathan Smith, Kjell Knops, Alex Jones, Anthony de Freitas, Paulo Tavares, Sam Kelly, Martin Paterson, Anton Forrester.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC: Jamie Reckford, Mark Klok, Carl Winchester, Lee Croft, Chris Kettings, Darius Osei, Lee ErwinSUBS:Connor |Ripley, Josh Law, Cameron Burgess, Ryan Flynn, Oliver Banks, Billy McKay, Freddie LadapoFane, Peter Clarke, Ryan McLaughlin, Charles Dunne.