Match Analysis: Port Vale 3-1 Shrewsbury
Substitute Jordan Hugill scored his first senior Vale goal as Micky Adams’ side swept aside Shrewsbury at Vale Park.
Substitute Jordan Hugill scored his first senior Vale goal as Micky Adams’ side swept aside Shrewsbury at Vale Park.
Adams made three changes to his line-up with Loft, Duffy and Williamson in at the expense of Birchall, Hughes and the ill Chilvers.
Vale started brightly with Doug Loft proving his fitness with an energetic midfield display.
The Valiants took the lead when Chris Robertson headed powerfully home. Loft was involved in the goal even though he didn’t make a pass. Instead the Vale captain quickly gathered the ball from the ballboy, enabling Vale to take a quick throw that took Shrewsbury unawares. Lines was given plenty of space to curl the ball in for defender Robertson to head into the back of the net.
Soon afterwards, Vale made it 2-0 when Jennison Myrie-Williams hit a sumptious finish following a powerful run. It could well be a contender for goal of the season.
At that stage, Vale were looking far better than their opponents with DUffy produving a composed centre-half display, Myrie-Williams looking dangerous and Loft running the show with a supremely energetic display.
But after the break, Vale took their foot off the gas and shambolic defending allowed Shrewsbury to get a goal back. Vale came back again with Williamson somehow skying a shot over the bar and Pope missing a decent headed chance.
However, as the away side pushed for an equaliser, keeper Chris Weale went up for a corner. Vale broke quickly and the ball found Jordan Hugill. The young striker still had plenty to do as Weale was back in position but he kept his composure to curl a fine finish past the keeper and he promptly ran to celebrate in front of the Railway Paddock.
Just weeks ago, Hugill was a relative unknown in the Development Squad – he won’t be any more!
Vale: Neal, Yates, Robertson, Duffy, Dickinson, Myrie-Williams (Birchall), Lines (Dodds), Griffith, Loft, Williamson (Hugill), Pope
Subs: Johnson, Shuker, Hughes, Tomlin
“Overall it was a good performance. We were excellent in the first-half with the intensity and strength of our play.”
– Micky Adams
“We had some decent positions in the later stages – but it is a mystery and a disappointment to why we have been poor today.”
– Graham Turner