Port Vale 3-0 Accrington
Port Vale 3-0 Accrington: Port Vale returned to the top of the League Two table after a comprehensive home victory over ten-man Accrington at Vale Park.
Micky Adams named the same starting line-up that drew with Wimbledon with Daniel Jones, Lee Hughes and Darren Purse all making their home debuts.
The game started in dramatic fashion as Charlie Barnett was sent-off for a challenge on the impressive Daniel Jones.
But despite their man advantage, Vale struggled with Accrington having a chance cleared off the line and hitting the crossbar.
Hughes was looking off somewhat the pace, but the same could not be said of Jones who was enjoying an eye-catching home debut.
Vale’s best chances came late on in the first-half. The Valiants capitalised on a poor clearance but Hughes and Pope both spurned chances to open the deadlock.
But the Valiants came out with much more purpose in the second period. Loft went close before Lee Hughes marked his home debut with a fine finish to give Vale the lead on 50 minutes.
And following more good work from Loft, fellow home debutant Darren Purse made it 2-0 to the Vale just nine minutes into the second-half.
Hughes who had been denied another goal from a backheel, then doubled his tally just after the hour mark as Vale surged into a 3-0 lead. It was another poacher’s effort from the veteran as he scored his third goal in Vale colours.
The home side really could have added more to their tally as Pope, Williamson and Shuker all had chances to make it four.
But the visitors held on as Vale secured their seventh home victory of the season.
Port Vale 3-0 Accrington
Attendance: 5,172
Goals: Hughes 50, 66; Purse 54
Vale bookings: Duffy
Vale: Neal, Duffy, Purse, Chilvers, Jones, Myrie-Williams (Andrew), Burge (Shuker), Loft, Vincent, Pope, Hughes (Williamson)
Subs: Johnson, Yates, Birchall
