Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Port Vale – Conlon and Amoo score in Trophy loss

Bolton Wanderers v Port Vale: captain Tom Conlon marked his return to the starting XI with a goal and David Amoo also scored his first of the season as Vale lost an entertaining Football League Trophy game.

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As expected manager Darrell Clarke made seven changes including the return of James Gibbons and Tom Conlon to the starting line-up. It was David Amoo, playing in a central role, who had the first shot on goal.

The Valiants were looking comfortable in possession while the pace of Amoo and Rodney was causing problems. However, for all their play Vale were unable to create any clearcut chances. The home side did have opportunities as Pett cleared, a Doyle shot went wide and an alert Stone foiled another attack. However, the home side did take the lead on 27 minutes when Johnson lost the ball and Isgrove fed Doyle who made no mistake in beating Stone.

It was skipper Tom Conlon who brought Vale back into the game. Good work from Rodney and Gibbons set up Cass whose ball found Conlon and his deflected effort put the Valiants level on 34 minutes. That goal spurred Darrell Clarke’s side into a period of pressure at the end of the first-half. It was capped by Lewis Cass sending David Amoo clear and the converted winger scored like a centre forward to put Vale 2-1 up. It could have been three as Rodney broke into the box but Amoo’s shot was saved.

It had been a fine first-half display from the Valiants marked by bright interplay as they often outplayed their League One opponents.

Half-time: Bolton Wanderers 1-2 Port Vale

Vale had an early second-half chance when the ball found Devante Rodney in the box but his poor effort went wide. The hard working Ben Garrity then had a header but he failed to get enough power on it. Vale were to pay for those missed chances as Delfouneso got on the end of a cross to level things on 54 minutes. Vale rested the returning Gibbons and Conlon and moments later, Kachunga almost caught Stone out but the ball deflected wide. Isgrove was the next to threaten as his free-kick beat Stone and hit the post.

The Valiants gave a debut to loanee George Lloyd with 25 minutes to go but the pace had gone out of the game by that point as both sides seemed to have run out of steam. David Worrall had a snap shot for the Vale but it was Bolton who found the net on 78 minutes as Afolayan’s shot hit the post and went in off the unfortunate Stone.

It had been a useful exercise for the Valiants with the returning Conlon and Gibbons gaining valuable minutes and Amoo impressing in his new central role. Lewis Cass and Ben Garity had also had good games for the Vale.

Full-time: Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Port Vale

What did you think of the Port Vale performance? Scroll down to post a comment at the bottom of the article.