Match Report: Port Vale 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
Port Vale 2-0 Shrewsbury Town: Louis Dodds and Michael O’Connor both scored as Port Vale ended their five game winless streak.
Port Vale manager Rob Page made two changes to his starting eleven bringing in AJ Leitch-Smith and Byron Moore for Uche Ikpeazu and Sam Foley.
Port Vale started brightly with winger Moore causing plenty of problems as the Valiants moved to a more passing game in the absence of Ikpeazu. However, despite plenty of Port Vale possession it ended goalless at the break.
In the second-half the Valiants continued to press and Colin Daniel’s effort hit the bar before Louis Dodds opened the scoring on 50 minutes.
The Valiants created further chances for Leitch-Smith and Carl Dickinson and doubled their lead on 75 minutes. There was a handball in the box and midfielder Michael O’Connor stepped up to mark his return from injury with a conversion from the penalty spot.
There was a further bonus for Port Vale as the defence managed to secure only their first clean sheet since the end of August.
Full-time: Port Vale 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
Vale: Alnwick, Purkiss, Duffy, McGivern, Dickinson, Grant, O’Connor, Dodds, Moore, Daniel, Leitch-Smith
Subs: Neal, Yates, Birchall, Lloyd, Hooper, Streete