Port Vale 6-2 Rotherham United
Port Vale 6-2 Rotherham United: Tom Pope scored four times against his former club and with six goals this season went past his goal tally for the whole of the last campaign as Vale thrashed Steve Evans’ Rotherham.
Vale once again named an unchanged starting eleven and took an early lead through Louis Dodds’ second goal of the season on five minutes.
Vale nearly had a second on eleven minutes when Jennison Myrie-Williams rounded the keeper but the winger was too wide to find the target.
However, Vale did double their lead on sixteen minutes when the in-form Pope headed home Shuker’s pass to score his third goal of the season. Vale were looking in superb early form and putting Steve Evans’ promotion favourites under constant pressure during the opening period.
The Valiants duly made it 3-0 on twenty minutes when Vincent broke and the ball ended with Tom Pope who sidefooted home for his second of the game. Then Ashley Vincent made it 4-0 to Vale on the half-hour mark with a brilliant strike for his first senior goal for the club.
The scoring didn’t end there as Michael O’Connor netted for the away side minutes later to make it 4-1 to an excellent Vale side at the break.
The visitors started the second period much better and pulled another goal back through a Nardiello penalty.
But despite United pressure, Vale regained their three goal advantage as Pope netted his hat-trick on the 65 minute mark. And Pope made it four against his former club as he took advantage of some poor defensive play to net Vale’s sixth goal with ten minutes to go.
It was an excellent performance by Micky Adams’ side and even the administrators will be happy after an attendance in excess of 5,500 was announced.
Full-time: Port Vale 6-2 Rotherham United
Vale: Neal, Duffy, McCombe, McDonald (Owen), Loft, Myrie-Williams (Taylor), Morsy, Shuker, Vincent (Williamson), Dodds, Pope
Subs: Johnson, Yates, Williamson, Burge, Lloyd
Attendance: 5,544