DONCASTER ROVERS 1 - 2 PORT VALE

PORT VALE: Joe Slinn, Matty Ward, James Steele, Mike Calverley, Zak Hill (Josh Ryder 67), Luke Dennis, Chris Regis, Harry Middleton, Dior Angus, Anton Forrester, Harry Benns (Jack Grimshaw 75). 

SUB NOT USED: Dequan Crockwell, Tom Daulby.

DONCASTER ROVERS: Louis Jones, Tyler Walker, Danny Amos, Luke McCullough (Morgan James 59), Reece Fielding, Keegan Townrow, Cody Prior (Cameron Foulkes 76), Jacob Fletcher (Anthony Greaves 46), James Morris, Rilwan Olaosun (Matthew Overton 73), Alex Kiwomya (Lewis Scattergood 46).

In a game of two halves, it was a James Steele winner for Vale that settled the result in windy conditions at Doncaster’s training ground.

Vale began with the wind at their backs and for 20 minutes used it to their advantage to break quickly to threaten the opposition without scoring.

Just 4 minutes in, new signing Dior Angus looked lively and won the ball just inside his own half and broke quickly before being brought down 25 yards from goal, with the resulting free kick from Middleton hitting the bar and on to safety.

Angus and Forrester caused all sorts of problems for the Doncaster defence in the early stages of the first half, but it was Rovers then had the best chance of the half as Kiwomya burst down the left and his cross saw Morris at full stretch only able to guide the ball past the far post when a more solid contact would have seen a goal.

The home team did take the lead with 2 minutes of the half remaining as a ball over the top of Vale’s defence held up in the wind and Morris was able to bring it down and poke the ball home into the far corner of the net.

Vale began the second period on the front foot and Slinn was a spectator for most of the half as Vale looked to retain their unbeaten record. Benns was first to show as his drive was blocked and then cleared.  Angus was next to threaten as he shot just wide, but with 57 minutes gone Vale got a deserved equaliser. Forrester won a free kick 25 yards out; Middleton again eyed up a shot but Forrester broke to the right of the wall and Middleton played a clever ball for Forrester to let the ball run past him, turn and slot the ball home.

Angus caused Doncaster problems down the right wing as Vale looked for a winner. Forrester and Steele were beginning to link up well but could not find a way past Rovers keeper, Louis Jones.

The game looked to be heading for a draw until the second minute of added time as Steele won a clearing header on the edge of his own box; the ball was worked to the ever dangerous Angus on the right where he beat his defender and played a cross into the 6 hard box where Steele, who had made 90 yards up the pitch since his clearing header, was on hand to slot the ball home as a defender made a despairing challenge to try to stop him.    

 Table as at 23.01.18