Harrogate 0-2 Port Vale: David Worrall and Kurtis Guthrie, the latter ending a long drought made it five straight wins for Darrell Clarke’s side.
What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Share your views and post a comment at the bottom of the article.
The Valiants manager named an unchanged side for the fourth match in a row but it was a scrappy first-half performance by the in-form Valiants.
The home side had the better chances with keeper Scott Brown saving well from McPake and Beck as Vale failed to create any clearcut chances in the opening forty five minutes.
That changed just two minutes after the break as Theo Robinson found David Worrall and his powerful half-volley put Vale 1-0 up.
The goal spurred the Valiants into life as they started to cause the Harrogate defence problems. Theo Robinson took advantage of a defensive lapse but no-one was on hand to convert his cross while Montano drove wide.
Harrogate were still threatening at times with one header goign across the six yard area but Vale continued to impress as sub Kurtis Guthrie shot wide. However, the substitute was to get his reward on 89 minutes as his low drive beat the keeper. It was Guthrie’s first goal in fifteen Vale appearances and his first goal for any club since October 2019. It was enough to ensure the Valiants comfortably saw out the closing minutes to record their second clean sheet of the Easter period and record another welcome three points.
Full-time: Harrogate 0-2 Port Vale
What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Share your views and post a comment at the bottom of the article.
Port Vale: Brown – Smith, Legge, Brisley – Worrall, Conlon, Joyce, Oyeleke (Taylor), Montano (Olagunju)- Rodney (Guthrie), Robinson
Subs: Scott, Amoo, Hurst
Much better from Vale, in what were tricky conditions they battled through a difficult first half. The pitch was covered in sand and Vale played into a strong wind in the first half which allowed Harrogate to force Vale back, some good defending and fine goalkeeping meant we went in 0-0 at half time. Second half belonged to Vale, Worrell smashed the ball home in the third minute of the second half and it was mainly all Vale for the remainder of the game. Guthrie made it 2 in the dying minutes and it was no more than Vale deserved. So 5 wins on the bounce, impressive stuff and hopefully we can carry this momentum forward for the remainder of the season. Well done Vale, it makes watching the games much more enjoyable when we compete all over the park.
Listening to the commentary on Radio Stoke I got the idea that not only were the vale defence battleing a strong Harrowgate team but also a strong wind, seeing the highlights the vale defence did a perfect job, after the break Worrall showed the Harrowgate team how to put the ball into the back of the net, a all round performance but for me 2 guys that need extra praise are Brown & Brisley, thanks guys , A Cheetham.