Port Vale 1-1 Colchester United: Port Vale failed to turn their dominance into goals as they were held at home by Colchester United on Saturday afternoon.
There was one change to the Port Vale line-up as Cristian Montano was unfit so John Askey handed Alex Hurst his full League debut. The youngster didn’t look out of place as after an early scare, the home side dominated the opening stages.
Good play by Devante Rodney and David Worrall set up Hurst for an early chance and then Worrall missed a good far post opportunity. A Tom Conlon free-kick was well saved and a Manny Oyeleke shot was cleared off the line as Vale did everything but score.
The second-half started in a similar manner with Vale having claims for a penalty and Colchester reduced to efforts on the break with Luke Norris going close. There was a succession of Vale corners as the game approached the hour mark before the Valiants finally found the net. Devante Rodney’s low long-range effort beat Gerken. It was the young striker’s fifth goal of the season and there was now a chance that the floodgates would open.
In fact, the opposite occurred. Opponents Colchester broke down the left channel with a ball over full-back Zak Mills and Norris beat Brown with a calm finish to make it 1-1.
Valiants manager John Askey through caution to the wind by bringing on forwards Harry McKirdy and Tom Pope but it was to no avail. There were late chances for Leon Legge and Rodney but Vale will rue the fact that not for the first time this season they hadn’t turned their early domination into a comprehensive lead.
Full-time: Port Vale 1-1 Colchester United
Port Vale: Brown – Mills, Legge, Smith, Fitzpatrick – Joyce (Pope), Oyeleke, Conlon – Hurst, Rodney, Worrall (McKirdy)
Subs: Visser, Brisley, Robinson, Clark
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