Chesterfield 3-0 Port Vale
Port Vale’s good Christmas and New Year form suffered a blip as Chesterfield ran out as comfortable winners on Saturday.
Rob Page named an unchanged starting eleven with Byron Moore replacing the injured Ryan Lloyd on the bench,
Vale had the first chance through Louis Dodds before Chesterfield took control with former Valiant Sam Morsy pulling the strings in midfield. There was a fitting standing ovation for former Vale and Spireites striker Ernie Moss on eight minutes before the home side took the lead five minutes later through Armand Gnanduillet and the same striker could have made it two only for Neal to make a fine save.
Vale were restricted to first-half chances for Dodds and defender Richard Duffy while veteran Michael Brown was lucky to stay on the field after two bad challenges. Vale unsurprisingly brought on Lines for Brown in the second-half but were grateful for a goalline clearance by Veseli that stopped the home side stretching their lead.
It wasn’t too long before Chesterfield did double their lead when dangerman Doyle was brought down by Veseli. The Irishman made no mistake from the spot to put Chesterfield 2-0 up. Almost immediately, Vale cleared off the line again as Chesterfield pushed for a third.
It was game over with twenty minutes left when former Valiant Charlie Raglan headed home to make it 3-0.
Vale did counter late on as Williamson struck the bar but it was one bright spot on a gloomy day for the travelling Valiant support.
Vale: Neal, Yates, Veseli, Duffy, Dickinson, Marshall, O’Connor, Brown (Lines), N’Guessan (Daniel), Dodds (Campion), Williamson
Subs: Johnson, Birchall, Moore, Campion, Daniel, Robertson