Match Analysis: Crewe 1-2 Port Vale
Jennison Myrie-Williams netted his fourth goal in three games and Rob Taylor netted on his hundredth league start for Port Vale as the Valiants defeated local rivals Crewe.
Jennison Myrie-Williams netted his fourth goal in three games and Rob Taylor (right) netted on his hundredth league start for Port Vale as the Valiants defeated local rivals Crewe.
Micky Adams made two changes with Jordan Hugill starting in place of Ben Williamson and Rob Taylor standing in for the injured Carl Dickinson.
Crewe started the brighter with a number of chances before Vale created half-chances for Robertson and Hugill. However, the home side went even closer on 20 minutes when George Evans hit the post with Neal beaten. And fifteen minutes later, Crewe took a deserved lead when George Evans netted.
It had been a poor first half an hour for the Vale who finally threatened in the closing moments of the half when Myrie-Williams forced Etheridge into a save. That produced Vale’s first spell of real pressure. And in the final minute of the first-half, the Valiants equalised with Rob Taylor bundling the ball over the line to net a goal on his hundredth league start for the club.
Vale decided to replace Jordan Hugill with Ben Williamson on the hour mark. Then captain Doug Loft went close as Vale pushed for a second goal. After a poor first-half, the Valiants were playing much better in the second period as they started to dominate play.
Gavin Tomlin came on for the injured Loft with twenty minutes remaining. Vale continued to press but Lines blasted over another good chance for the away side. However, Crewe were still looking dangerous with Moore threatening with fifteen minutes remaining.
And with eight minutes to go, Vale took the lead when Lines fed Pope who broke forward and passed to Jennison Myrie-Williams (right) to score his sixth goal of the season. It was Myrie-Williams’ fourth goal in his last three games.
Vale had claims for a penalty in injury time but they were turned down. And moments later, the speedy Taylor broke clear only for Etheridge to save. However, despite those misses, Vale did enough to secure all three points as they continued their good start to life in League One.
It was a fine comeback from the Valiants after a poor opening half an hour, it was the third win in a row for Micky Adams’ side and Vale’s first win at the Alexandra stadium since 2009.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, Duffy, Taylor, Myrie-Williams (Birchall), Griffith, Lines, Loft (Tomlin), Hugill (Williamson), Pope
Subs: Johnson, Chilvers, Dodds, Hughes