Match Report from the New Manor Ground

Vale won the first of three games in four days when they beta Ilkeston in what was perhaps their toughest test to date in the pre-season.

As promised, Micky Adams sent out eleven players for the whole ninety minutes, and intends to do the same at Stafford Rangers on Wednesday night, as Vale step up their preparations for the coming season.

Vale had plenty of possession in the match, especially during the opening forty five minutes, but had little to show for their efforts in terms of goalscoring opportunities.

Tadhg Purcell and Ben Williamson worked well together as a pair, but all Vale had to show for their efforts going in at half time was a solitary goal, netted inadvertently by a home defender.

Defenders Adam Yates and John McCombe had each gone close to opening the scoring, but on 35 minutes it was Ilkeston defender Pearson who turned the ball past his own ‘keeper.

Doug Loft had slipped a delightful little through ball for young winger Ryan Lloyd and his attempt to push the ball on towards the far post to the lurking Purcell was cut out by Pearson, diverting the ball past Ashley Timms for the opener.

Purcell went close to doubling Vale’s lead on the hour when he lifted the ball over Timms, only to see his shot strike the underside of the crossbar before being hacked to safety.

minute and he supplied the final ball to Ben Williamson, who turned to tuck his shot inside the ‘keeper’s right hand post.^thAdam Yates figured heavily in a neat passing move that saw Vale get their second goal in the 69

Yates later turned the ball against the upright at the other end as the home side applied some rare pressure on the Vale defence, but although Chris Neal had a couple of saves to make in the second half, he was rarely involved.