Match report: Morecambe 0-3 Port Vale
If the phrase is “Feed the Pope” then Tom Pope must be completely full at the moment. His double and Cristian Montano’s first goal saw Vale record an excellent away win.
It also meant that Aspin had guided the side to six points from his first three games as Vale bid to move further away from the drop zone.
Aspo had named an unchanged starting eleven after the weekend win over Grimsby but initially Vale were under lots of pressure as Morecambe’s long balls aimed to get men behind the Vale defence. The away side also weren’t helped by some uncertain keeping by loanee Kelle Roos.
But the mood among the away fans was lifted when the impressive Ben Whitfield crossed for Tom Pope to head his fifth goal of the season on the 18 minute mark.
Aspin brought on Michael Tonge for Tyler Denton as he looked to shore up the Vale midfield and protect the lead but the Valiants could have made it two just after the break but Worrall’s effort struck the post.
Marcus Harness and Tom Anderson also went close as Vale had further chances to stretch their lead. However, the crucial second goal did arrive through that man Pope on 67 minutes. The forward took the ball past a clutch of defenders before calmly finishing – it was his sixth of the season and fifth goal in three games.
The Valiants were now comfortable after that crucial second goal but they did have to rely on a fine save from Roos to maintain their clean sheet. However, the Vale defence stood firm and sub Cristian Montano marked his return from injury by scoring a late third, his first senior goal for the club, to cap Vale’s evening.
It had been a great night for Neil Aspin, Cristian Montano, Port Vale fans and their talisman Tom Pope.
Vale: Roos, Gibbons, Smith, Anderson, Gunning, Pugh, Denton (Tonge), Whitfield (Barnett), Worrall, Harness (Montano), Pope
Subs: Boot, Davis, Kay, Turner