Report: Gillingham v Vale

League One
At the Priestfield Stadium
Saturday 11th February 2017
Gillingham v Port Vale Attendance: 4,942 including 129 visiting supporters

Vale looked like they had managed to brighten up a cold afternoon in Kent for their loyal travelling supporters, until the home side struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to take a share of the spoils.

Vale’s goal came early in the second half when defender Remie Streete kept up his goal scoring record with a decisive stooping header three minutes after the break.

Michael Brown’s side looked to be heading home with the spoils until Gill’s substitute Josh Parker headed home to ruin what up to that point had been a superb afternoon for the Valiants.

Vale made two changes to the starting eleven to face Gillingham, with the manager opting to be a bit more solid for what he saw as a challenging game for the Valiants.

Kjell Knops came back in at left back, with Scott Tanser dropping down to the bench and Danny Pugh was preferred to Olamide Shodipo.

If Vale were supposed to be worried going into the game, given their recent run of results, it certainly didn’t show out there on the pitch.

Michael Brown’s side were giving as good as they got – and some, putting the home side under pressure with their willingness to attack at every opportunity.

JJ Hooper couldn’t believe it himself when he wasted an opportunity to fire into an empty net after the Gill’s ‘keeper Stuart Nelson hade made a hash of things coming for the ball.

minute lead.^thIn his defence, he hit it first time, when perhaps he had time to steady himself first, but even so, he would have been expected to give Vale an 11

Vale had been pretty much on top up to that point but it was to signal a spell where the home side began to look like they might dominate.

Former Vale loanee Chris Herd, playing in the back line for the Gills, picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away after Tyler Walker had been fouled, but the free kick amounted to nothing.

Vale managed to soak up the pressure. Leo Fasan didn’t have too much to do, but when he was called upon he did well, on one occasion racing off his line to make a brave save.

when Danny Pugh’s 20 yard effort was deflected out for a corner kick. Vale began the second half looking dangerous and they went close

GOAL: launched himself to plant a firm stooping back post header into the net.REMIE STREETE minute when ^thFrom the resulting left wing corner taken by Callum Guy, Vale took the lead in the 49

Despite the home side’s determination to hit back, Vale looked composed and organised and seldom looked like their defence would be breached.

They stood form, allowing Vale to build on that strength, and not for one minute t-did they think too much about sitting back and defending their slender lead.

Vale were hungry to get forward, as if believing another card would come, thus putting even more pressure on the home side.

Vale made their first change of the afternoon when they introduced Anton Forrester into the action at the expense of Tyler Walker.

Then with a minute left on the clock JJ Hooper was sacrificed in order for Vale to tighten things up in the middle of the park with Chris Eagles coming off the bench.

GOAL: stormed in unmarked to plant a firm header into the net, earning his side a share of the points.Josh ParkerIn the last of five minutes of stoppage time, substitute

GILLINGHAM: Thomas Holy, Bradley Garmston, Lee Martin, Josh Parker, Elliott List, Mark Byrne, Jay Emmanuel Thomas.SUBS:Stuart Nelson, Ryan Jackson, Chris Herd, Max Ehmer, Deji Oshilaja, Scott Wagstaff, Jake Hessenthaler, Rory Donnelly, Cody McDonald, Bredley Dack, Josh Wright.

PORT VALE: Scott Tanser, Axel Prohouly, Olamide Shodipo, Sam Kelly, Anton Forrester, Ryan Boot, Chris Eagles.SUBS:Leo Fasan, Ben Purkiss, Remie Streete, JJ Hooper, Sam Foley, Kjell Knops, Nathan Smith, Callum Guy, Tyler Walker, Anthony de Freitas, Danny Pugh.