Match report: Oldham 0-0 Port Vale (2-4 pens)
Ryan Boot scored two penalties on only his second appearance as Port Vale took two points from their opening game in the checkatrade Trophy tournament.
Michael Brown gave goalkeeper Ryan Boot only his second senior start and brought back Gavin Gunning and Lawrie Wilson into the defence. Youngsters Dan Turner and Rekeil Pyke formed the strike partnership.
Vale were solid in the first 45 minutes with chances for Pyke and the influential David Worrall but Brown’s side picked up yet another injury when Pyke was injured just before the break.
Vale’s solid play continued after the interval although clear chances for the visitors were few and far between. Brown brought on Tom Pope and Tyler Denton for the closing stages but it finished goalless after ninety minutes.
Due to the rules of the competition, there was a penalty shootout after the 90 minutes were up with a further point on offer for the winners. It was also played under the new ABBA system which meant an end to the consecutive switching between players of both sides.
Ryan Boot proved to be the Vale hero as he saved two penalties as Vale triumphed 4-2 with loanee Tyler Denton slotting home the winning spot-kick. So not quite a win but a welcome boost for underfire manager Michael Brown.
Penalty Shootout details
- Vale score 1-0 (Tonge)
- Oldham score 1-1
- Oldham shot saved by Boot 1-1
- Vale score 2-1 (Gunning)
- Vale score 3-1 (Pope)
- Oldham shot saved by Boot 3-1
- Oldham scored 3-2
- Vale score 4-2 (Denton)
- Vale win 4-2
Vale: Boot, Wilson, Davis, Smith, Gunning, Montano (Denton), De Freitas, Tonge, Worrall (Pope), Pyke (Harness), Turner
Subs: Hornby, Whitfield, Stobbs
Attendance: 1,429