Match Analysis: Port Vale 2-1 Bury
Get all the post-match reaction from Port Vale’s Johnstones Paint Trophy win over Bury with our match report, quotes and post-match stats.
Vale were grateful for two late Tom Pope goals as they progressed into the second round of the Johnstones Paint Trophy at the expense of a battling Bury side.
Micky Adams made five changes with Chilvers, Dodds, Duffy, Birchall and Williamson replacing Jones, Lines, Myrie-Williams, Hughes and Yates. Joe Davis continued his return from injury by being named on the bench.
Williamson had a chance right from the kick-off but after that it was a dour first 30 minutes as chances were few and far between.
Vale rallied towards the end of the half with a number of corners until Bury countered with a good shot from Sinnott.
Sinnott, the son of former Vale manager Lee, was looking the visitor’s biggest threat as he had another effort in the second-half and the visitors had another chance as Robertson’s back pass almost caught Neal out.
Vale countered as Birchall played in Dodds whose shot was blocked but it was Bury who took the lead on 70 minutes as Obadaye beat Duffy and Sedgwick’s header beat Neal. However, with minutes remaining Vale equalised as Tom Pope netted his second goal in two games.
Bury were still pressing for the winner and Vale were grateful for two saves from Neal to keep the home side in the game. But in the 91st minute, that man Tom Pope was on hand to score and send Vale through to the next round.
Vale: Neal, Duffy, Robertson, Chilvers, Dickinson, Birchall (Myrie-Williams), Griffith (Shuker), Loft, Dodds (Mohamed), Pope, Williamson
Subs: Johnson, Davis
Attendance: 2,351
Quotes
“At times, we didn’t defend well. If you don’t do that then you need your keeper to come to the fore – and he was excellent.”
– Micky Adams
“We’ve had to work hard for 90 minutes, they’ve had some very good chances and Neal been superb as he has been all the time he has been at Vale.”
– Tom Pope