Match report: Port Vale 2-2 Oxford Utd
Port Vale came from two goals down to draw at home to Oxford as Rigino Cicilia and debutant Ryan Taylor both scored their first goals for the club.
Before the game Vale were rocked by the loss of top scorer Alex Jones to injury as Bruno Ribeiro made four changes to his side.
However, the much altered Valiants suffered a dreadful opening forty five minutes as Oxford raced into a two-goal lead after just nineteen minutes of play.
The visitors were completely in charge with Vale grateful to goalkeeper Jak Alnwick for keeping the score down. Meanwhile, Vale brought off Calvin Mac-Intosch after just 27 minutes and then lost Sam Foley to injury after 42 minutes.
The team departed to boos at half-time and Vale’s task looked fairly hopeless.
But the Valiants rallied in the second-half and after he missed a header, Rigino Cicilia finally broke his goal duck with a neat finish after 54 minutes.
Five minutes later and the game was turned on its head as Cicilia was fouled in the box and debutant Ryan Taylor scored from the resulting penalty.
Taylor almost put Vale in front from a great free-kick and Thomas went close as the Valiants dominated the second-half.
The closing stages saw chances for both sides as it ended in a draw – a result that had seemed highly unlikely at the half-time break.
Attendance: 4,837 (606 away)