Match Analysis: Port Vale 2-1 Gillingham
Talisman Tom Pope bounced back from being dropped in midweek by scoring his sixth of the season and earning Vale their second win of the week.
Striker Tom Pope (right) bounced back from being dropped in midweek by scoring his sixth of the season and earning Vale their second win of the week.
The Valiants defeated Gillingham by two goals to one thanks to second-half strikes from Chris Robertson and Pope.
Micky Adams named an unchanged line-up with youngsters Williamson and Hugill upfront in preference to Pope and Hughes.
Vale started brightly but it was the visitors who took the lead when the experienced Kedwell netted on 13 minutes.
The home side rallied with chances for Lines, Dickinson, Loft and Williamson but they failed to beat keeper Nelson.
However, Vale made a change at half-time with Pope replacing Hugill and the move paid dividends as Vale equalised just moments into the second period through Robertson. The Valiants were pressing and Lines went close minutes later.
The pattern of play continued as the Vale put the Gills backline under pressure as they tried to force a lead. Vale were well on top and it was substitute Pope who put them ahead on the hour mark. It was his sixth goal of the season and ended a six match barren run.
Vale looked like they would add more goals to their tally as they continued to pour forward but they were unable to add to their tally.
In the closing minutes, Vale did offer the visitors the odd chance but the Valiant defence managed to resist them as Vale secured their second successive league win.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, Chilvers, Dickinson, Dodds, Griffith, Lines, Loft, Hugill (Pope), Williamson
Subs: Johnson, Hughes, Duffy, Jones, Myrie-Williams, Birchall
Attendance: 5,690
“The reaction of the boys was first class and we thoroughly deserved to win the game. The players showed great character to bounce back and I’m delighted.”
– Micky Adams
“We were excellent in the first-half and that really pleased me. We played some good football and could have scored more than one goal. But the massive negative was the start of the second-half when we were put under pressure and conceded two very poor goals.”
– Peter Taylor