Port Vale 0-0 Grimsby Town
Micky Adams’ side will have to travel to Blundell Park for an FA Cup replay after a frustrating display saw Vale draw a blank against Blue Square Premier side Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round.
With injuries robbing Vale of the services of Owen, McDonald, Martin and Richards and Chilvers ineligible, Vale made four changes to their starting line-up.
John McCombe, Gary Roberts, Lee Collins and Gary Roberts were all restored to the starting eleven with youngsters Sam Johnson, Ryan Lloyd, Joe Davis and Dominic Thorley making the seven-man FA Cup bench.
Grimsby went close early on when Panther’s shot was cleared off the line by Dodds. And Dodds then had Vale’s first chance when he headed over.
Clear-cut chances afterwards were at a premium although Tomlinson was the busier of the two keepers.
Vale were struggling to put the visitors under concerted pressure. Taylor was the brightest of Vale players in the first half as his pace caused Grimsby problems. Nevertheless, apart from a couple of chances for Pope and Dodds, Vale did little to force Town keeper McKeown into any meaningful saves as it ended goalless at half-time. Grimsby were comfortably matching Vale in an even contest.
Gary Roberts picked up a yellow card in the early stages of the second-half as the crowd started to get restless. A Dodds long-range effort lifted the crowd momentarily but nevertheless it was a disappointingly subdued FA Cup atmosphere at Vale Park.
It livened up as Yates’ shot was parried by McKeown, but Vale were unable to convert the loose ball. Then the ball fell kindly for Rigg but he was unable to score. Then dangerous substitute Elding almost scored with his first touch after coming on as the game came to life.
Vale pressed more in the final twenty minutes and John McCombe caused problems as Vale forced a number of corners.
Vale pushed more and more in the closing stages, creating further decent chances for Pope, Dodds and Morsy. But Vale were unable to convert their chances as Grimsby hung on to force a replay.
Vale: Tomlinson, Yates, McCombe, Collins, Taylor, Loft, Griffith, Roberts, Rigg (Morsy), Pope, Dodds
Subs: Johnson, Roe, Davis, Kozluk, Lloyd, Thorley
Attendance: 4,450