Vale’s final away pre-season game before their 2017/18 campaign kicks off in a weeks’ time, ended in a draw at the Swansway Chester Stadium.
Rekeil Pyke had put Vale in the lead, but Nyal Bell grabbed an equaliser for the hosts, to cancel out Michael Brown’s sides lead.
The game had begun slow with both teams not creating much in the first 10 minutes. The best chance however, came from the home side, as Kingsley James had effort from the edge of the box, which was deflected out for a corner.
Vale threatened down the right-hand side, with crosses from Wilson and Harness calling the Chester defence into action earning corners, but nothing transpired.
Vale created the best chances of the first half, one falling to Pope at the back post after Smith had flicked on Montano’s corner form the right, but his diving header was cleared off the line.
Pope was involved again later on, as strike partner, Pyke, brought the ball down and played it to Montano, who went on to play in Vale’s number nine, but he had his shot blocked.
Chester also created chances with Craig Mahon carving out a weaving run through the Vale midfield and unleashing a shot that was deflected behind for a corner.
Mahon was at it again for the hosts as he got to the byline and pulled the ball back, but James Akintunde missed his kick. The ball was then moved out to Paul Turnbull on the right whose chipped cross was headed away by Harness.
The teams headed into the break at 0-0 and when they came back out, two Vale changes had been made early on, with Sam Hornby and Dan Turner coming on.
Turner made an instant impact, beating his man on the right and setting Lawrie Wilson off down the right to chip a ball to the back post, which was met by Pope and the striker saw his header rebound off the crossbar.
Shortly after, Rekeil Pyke was presented with a gift.
Antony Kay played a long ball up towards Harness, but his ball was intercepted and headed back towards the ‘keeper. Pyke read the defender’s intentions, and capitalised on the loose ball and slotted neatly into the bottom corner, giving Vale a 1-0 lead.
However, Vale’s lead did not last long. A ball played upfield by Lathaniel Rowe-Turner was retrieved by Nyal Bell who beat his man and curled an effort round Hornby in goal and inside the post to draw the home team level.
The game slowed down after this, with the next best chance coming from a Michael Tonge free kick after Pope drew the foul on the edge of the Chester box. Tonge curled his freekick over the wall, but the shot was saved by Conor Mitchell.
Later in the game, Billy Reeves headed a long ball down to Pope who was in on goal. He tried an ambitious chip over Mitchell who was off his line, but the ball crept just over the bar.
Vale will now look ahead to their final pre-season game against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 1st August 2017. This will be their final game before the season gets underway on Saturday.
Port Vale Starting XI - Lainton (Hornby 46), Smith, Kay, Gunning, Wilson, Pugh, Tonge, Montano, Harness (Reeves 83), Pope, Pyke (de Freitas 83)
Chester Starting XI - Mitchell, Halls, Rowe-Turner, James (Brown 89), McCombe, Astles, Mahon (Davies 63), Turnbull (Joyce 75), Bell (Marsh-Hughes 89), Dawson, Akintunde (Hellawell 89)
1,027 attendance