Port Vale 2-1 Newport County match report

Port Vale 2-1 Newport County: the Valiants ended their four game goalless streak as Tom Conlon and Devante Rodney goals helped the club pick up a vital three points.

What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Post a comment with your observations at the end of the page.

Manager Darrell Clarke made three changes to Saturday’s side bringing in Manny Oyeleke, Cristian Montano and Theo Robinson.

There was an early chance for Robinson from a Tom Conlon free-kick before Vale took the lead on eleven minutes. Worrall did well down the wing and set up Conlon in the box whose low drive went into the corner. It ended a four match goalless streak for the club at Vale Park and inspired Vale into an dominant spell where they tested the opponents’ defence. During that spell, Conlon came close to his second as his free-kick was well saved.

Worrall continued to influential and there were a couple of breaks which Vale were unable to take advantage of. However, the defence still needed to be cautious as Newport also looked dangerous in isolated moments. However, it was the home side who were having the majority of possession and chances as they pushed for a second. There were chances for Conlon and Robinson but neither were able to stretch Vale’s lead.

As we’ve seen before, the opponents started the second period brightly and Taylor’s fierce shot hit the bar and arguably deserved to be a goal. Vale countered when Robinson played in Conlon but neither the skipper or Zak Mills could find the target. The Valiants were made to pay as half-time sub Scrimshaw, who helped turn the match for Walsall earlier in the season, turned the ball under Brown to make it 1-1 on 55 minutes. It was yet again another sloppy second-half goal for Vale to concede and  it led to the visitors dominating proceedings. It was certainly a physical performance by County with the likes of Labadie not unafraid to wrestle Vale players to the ground. The Newport Captain’s high challenge on Worrall surely deserved a yellow card but went unpunished.

This season it has normally been Vale who have been punished for not turning their possession into goals, but in this game the tables were turned as Vale scored against the run of play. Worrall’s low ball saw Smith’s shot saved but Rodney made no mistake from close range to put Vale back in front with fifteen minutes left. It was the striker’s eleventh goal of the season.

This was a much better performance by Darrell Clarke’s side. The return of the energetic Oyeleke to the midfield and influential displays from captain Conlon and winger Worrall helped Vale dominate the first-half. A switch to 4-4-2 to counter Newport’s half-time changes helped the side come back in the second period. It will be a most welcome three points for the Valiants.

Full-time: Port Vale 2-1 Newport County

Port Vale: Brown – Mills, Legge, Smith, Montano – Oyeleke (Amoo), Joyce, Conlon – Rodney, Robinson (Brisley), Worrall

Subs: Scott, Olagunju, Cullen, Taylor, Hurst

What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Post a comment with your observations at the end of the page.