Crawley Town 1-4 Port Vale – four goals seal fine second-half Vale comeback
Crawley Town 1-4 Port Vale: Tom Pett netted his first for the club as Vale came back from a goal down to win comfortably against Crawley’s ten men.
Port Vale manager Darrell Clarke made two changes from the home win over Colchester United with David Worrall and Devante Rodney dropping out for Ben Garrity and Mal Benning.
The Valiants had the first chances in the opening moments with James Wilson having two shots and Mal Benning putting another effort over. On eleven minutes the home side were reduced to ten men when Lynch was dismissed for an apparent elbow on Nathan Smith.
The Vale dominated possession with a man advantage. In the next half-hour, Tom Conlon set up Dennis Politic whose effort was tipped over, James Gibbons headed wide from a good position and Tom Conlon saw another shot saved.
However, the home side were still looking dangerous on the break and Tom Pett did well to break up one move on 37 minutes. Vale were made to pay for not taking their chances as Crawley took the lead on 43 minutes. Dan Jones missed his header and Appiah was able to head home giving Covolan no chance.
The goal inspired Vale into a strong end to the half although to no avail. Jones had an excellent long-range effort tipped around the post, James Gibbons had another effort blocked and no-one could get on the end of Wilson’s dangerous ball across the six yard box.
Half-time: Crawley Town 1-0 Port Vale
Darrell Clarke made a double switch in the second-half bringing on George Lloyd and David Amoo and it took Vale just three minutes to level the scores. Lloyd was fouled and set-piece expert Tom Conlon scored another excellent set-piece to make it 1-1.
Vale presed for a winner with Conlon having another set-piece palmed over and sub Jake Taylor’s header going just wide. However, this time Vale would not regret those misses as they took the lead when David Amoo knocked the ball into Tom Pett’s path and he scored with a low drive on 75 minutes.
The Valiants sealed the win when the impressive Amoo was found in the box and his low cross was turned in by a Crawley defender. Amoo then netted a late fourth from Conlon’s fine pass. It capped a fine comeback from the Valiants.
Tom Pett scored his first goal but his all-round display was excellent, while second-half subs Amoo and Lloyd both made an impact as Vale turned things around. Credit too to Darrell Clarke who, for the umpteenth time this season, made a change in formation and personnel and forced a positive result.
Half-time: Crawley Town 1-4 Port Vale
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Match stats:
Port Vale: Covolan: Cass (Amoo), Smith, Jones; Gibbons, Pett, Conlon, Garrity (Lloyd), Benning; Wilson, Politic (Taylor)
Subs: Stone, Martin, Amos, Walker
Port Vale bookings: Garrity, Pett
Attendance: 2,234 (389 travelling Vale fans)