Crewe Alex 0-0 Port Vale
Eight players were handed debuts by Rob Page but the new-look Vale side were unable to find the net against rivals Crewe.
Rob Page named six debutants in his starting eleven – Ben Purkiss, Sam Foley, Sam Kelly, Anthony Grant, Uche Ikpeazu and keeper Jak Alnwick. It meant that Vale had three former Crewe players in their starting eleven but defender Ryan Inniss, who had been a fitness doubt starting on the bench rather than the pitch.
Vale had asked their fans to wear white in the sold-out away stands and as this tweet shows, supporters obliged:
@OfficialPVFC #whitewall pic.twitter.com/pJgCAhvUWo
— James C Salmon ☜ (@jamescsalmon) August 8, 2015
The Valiants started strongly with Moore and Ikpeazu both having chances. Then Crewe stopper Nugent cleared as Ikpeazu looked set to open the scoring. The home side had chances too with Anthony Grant clearing one goalmouth scramble.
Late on in the first period, Vale had two great chances to take the lead with Garrett saving well from Dodds and Purkiss. But it was goalless at the break.
@OfficialPVFC Half Time white wall! pic.twitter.com/xNnKqMFzvc
— Jack Ellis (@JMEllis96) August 8, 2015
The second period was less frenetic although Ikpeazu put the ball into the net only for the ref to flag that the ball had gone out earlier.
Vale gave a seventh debut as Andoh came on for the tiring Kelly and veteran Michael Brown came on for Sam Foley. The lively Andoh immediately caused problems for the Crewe defenders. With fifteen minutes left, Andoh set up Ikpeazu who forced another save from Garrett.
AJ Leitch-Smith became the game’s eighth debutant for the Valiants when he replaced the tiring Ikpeazu but despite having the majority of possession, the Valiants were grateful for Richard Duffy’s fine tackle late on as it finished goalless.
Attendance: 6,751 (2,309 Vale supporters)