Port Vale welcomed Premier League side Burnley this afternoon for their second home pre-season game of the summer and the visitors came out top with a 3-1 win.
The game was played at a high intensity from the get go, with both teams coming close to taking the lead within the opening few minutes.
Burnley's striker Chris Wood would've given Burnley the lead had it not been for goalkeeper Scott Brown's quick reactions, before Popey went up the other end with a powerful header which Heaton got down well for to collect.
Popey made no mistake of it with the second chance he got at goal on the 9th minute. Conlon was quick to pounce on some slack work in Burnley midfield and looked to clip the ball into Popey.
His cross was cleared only as far as Worrall who found Pope at the second attempt and the striker squeezed the ball past Heaton to give Vale the lead.
Jeff Hendrick came closest to equalising for the visitors and will be disappointed he couldn't do better with his opportunity. Aaron Lennon showed his blistering pace by cutting inside and driving at the Vale defence before slipping in Hendrick with a clear shot at goal, but the midfielder could only drag his shot wide.
Askey would have James Gibbons to thank that Vale headed into half time with a 1-0 lead. Aaron Lennon's pace once again causing problems for the Vale defence as he found himself one on one with Brown before taking it around him.
Brown recovered to his line as did Smith, but Lennon opted to pull the ball back to the incoming Hendrick who would've hammered the ball at goal had it not been for Gibbons. The full back throwing his body in front of the ball to block the effort.
Vale did have the share of chances as well before the half with the likes of Amoo and Worrall looking to test the Burnley goal and double their lead.
As the game entered into the second half, it took Burnley just seven minutes to find an equaliser. Aaron Lennon cut in onto his left foot and found Chris Wood lurking unmarked at the back post to give him the easiest of headers to finish past Scott Brown.
Jonny Maddison was introduced in place of Scott Brown on the hour mark and was called into action immediatly. Vydra found himself with a yard of space inside the goal, but Maddison got down well to deny the striker.
Burnley showed their Premier League class with two goals in quick succession. With 10 minutes remaining, Wood took the ball in his stride inside the Vale box, faked his shot at goal before laying it off for Vydra who finished it cooly past Maddison.
Minutes later the visitors added a third. Irish midfielder Robbie Brady receieved the ball the on the edge of the box and trapped it dead in it's path before toe punting it into the top corner.
Vale host League One side Bury in their final pre-season fixture next Saturday before they kick off their 19/20 league campaign away to Colchester.
Port Vale Starting XI: Scott Brown (64' Jonny Maddison), James Gibbons (60' Callum Evans), Adam Crookes, Leon Legge, Luke Joyce, David Worrall (76' Ryan Campbell-Gordon), Tom Pope (64' Mark Cullen), Tom Conlon (74' Daniel Trickett-Smith), Nathan Smith (60' Connell Rawlinson), David Amoo (67' Scott Burgess), Richie Bennett.
Unused Subs: Kieran Kennedy
Burnley Starting XI: Tom Heaton (45' Joe Hart), Phil Bardsley, James Tarkowski, Ben Gibson, Ali Koiki, Aaron Lennon, Jeff Hendrick, Jack Cork, Robbie Brady, Matej Vydra, Chris Wood.
Unused Subs: Nahki Werlls, Bobby Thomas, Scott Wilson, Christian N'Guessan